{"id":1909,"date":"2017-03-13T21:36:15","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T05:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.workparentsleep.com\/?p=1909"},"modified":"2021-04-27T08:59:31","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T16:59:31","slug":"the-power-of-naps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/workparentsleep.com\/the-power-of-naps\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Naps"},"content":{"rendered":"

In celebration of National Napping Day (observed annually the day after daylight savings time returns), and as parents who don’t always get enough sleep due to both work and kids,\u00a0it’s a\u00a0perfect opportunity\u00a0to talk about the benefits of naps for parents.\u00a0 As an avid and habitual napper, I find\u00a0myself more rested and energetic after a short bit of shut-eye and use my naps as a mental reset for the day. \u00a0Read on for more information on why napping can be a great thing for not just kids, but adults!<\/p>\n

U.S. Culture and\u00a0Napping<\/h1>\n

Historically speaking, cultural acceptance for and traditions of nap-taking have been around for thousands of years. \u00a0You may have heard of the term siesta<\/em><\/a>, a\u00a0Spanish tradition that is still somewhat common in Spanish-speaking nations. In U.S. culture, however, napping can often be seen as a lazy endeavor as we are consistently encouraged to do more with less time and fewer resources.<\/p>\n

Still, more and more workplaces have started to recognize\u00a0the benefits of napping and some even encourage workers to nap with dedicated nap spaces. \u00a0Sleep.com explores 5 firms<\/a> where napping is encouraged to boost productivity. \u00a0Even a handful of U.S.\u00a0airports (Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Philadelphia) currently offer travelers specialized sleep space<\/a>. \u00a0While still not commonplace, it appears that the U.S. is becoming more aware of the benefits of napping for adults. \u00a0If you can shake the stigma associated with naps, you’ll find they can be a powerful tool to keep you healthy, happy, and energetic.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of a Nap<\/h1>\n

Greater acceptance of napping in the U.S. comes on the heels of scientific studies<\/a> that have found quite a few health benefits to napping. \u00a0While there are a few drawbacks, like potential interference with nighttime rest, the benefits of napping include greater mental alertness, improved cognitive performance, and even improvement of mood. \u00a0Other benefits include preventing burnout and even improving your health overall! \u00a0Think about how much better the cranky kids feel after a nap–parents may likewise feel more relaxed and well rested with routine naps.<\/p>\n

Types of Sleep<\/h1>\n

When napping, it’s important to keep in mind that there are 2 different types of sleep–rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREM). \u00a0REM sleep is also known as “active” sleep, where the eye has rapid movements which may be linked to dreams and arms and legs are temporarily paralyzed. \u00a0NREM sleep is broken down into 3 stages (N1, N2, and N3), each a more progressively deep sleep. Sleeping typically starts with NREM sleep and progresses through its stages until a sleeper enters REM sleep.<\/p>\n

Sleep\u00a0Cycles<\/h2>\n

As outlined by the Harvard Medical School<\/a>, the first typical evening sleep cycle for an adult looks something like this:<\/p>\n