What Time Is a Good Nap? Here’s the Explanation

Napping is an activity that is generally done to restore the body. Everyone needs a nap, from children to adults, before resuming activities. Then, what time is a good nap?

Not only for recovering, napping is also beneficial for maintaining health, such as improving mood and reducing stress. So that the benefits are more optimal, what time is a good nap? Check out the following explanation.

What Time Is a Good Nap?

The ideal nap time is around 13.00 to 15.00. In addition, a good nap is a nap of sufficient duration and not too much.

Quoted from the National Sleep Foundation in Swedishamerican.org, the best nap duration is for 20 or 90 minutes. This duration is considered to optimize the benefits to be gained from napping.

Benefits of Napping

Naps have the benefit of resting the body and mind from feeling bored, tired, or tense. However, the benefits of napping are not just limited to resting the body. Here are some other benefits that you get when you nap at the right duration and time:

1. Improve concentration and alertness

Research shows that people who nap, for at least 15-30 minutes, can be more focused and productive, than people who don’t nap. Adequate naps can also improve the smooth flow of blood, including in the brain.

2. Improve mood

Another benefit of adequate naps is to improve mood or mood. When someone is stressed or anxious, it is best to do relaxation, one of which is taking a nap for the right duration. When stress is under control, you will feel more relaxed and your mood will improve. This can reduce your risk of developing mental disorders, such as depression.

3. Improve memory

Adequate naps can also help improve brain performance. Research has found that regular naps are beneficial for improving memory, as well as the ability to process information or learn new things.

4. Lower blood pressure

Keeping blood pressure stable is also one of the benefits you get from napping. Research has found that people who sleep during the day and get enough sleep at night have a lower risk of developing hypertension. This is presumably because napping can reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which is a hormone that can cause blood pressure to increase.

5. Add hours of sleep

Adequate naps can be a solution for those of you who may work shifts or alternate schedules, so you don’t get enough sleep at night. For people who have difficulty sleeping at night due to certain activities, dividing sleep time into 1-1.5 hours during the day and around 6 hours at night can be an option. This sleep pattern is called biphasic sleep.

If you find it difficult to nap or sleep at night, especially if it makes you feel tired and interferes with your daily activities, you should consult a doctor.