When Is a Good Nap Time?

Quoted from data published by the Sleep Foundation, napping has many benefits, including increasing one’s focus and concentration, as well as increasing productivity. When is a good nap time?

Many do not know that napping is beneficial for health, including reducing stress and improving mood. However, when is a good nap time for health? Here’s an explanation.

Good Nap Time

The best time for a recommended nap is 14.00 and 15.00. At that hour, usually someone has lunch, so sugar and energy levels begin to decrease naturally.

However, everyone has their own best nap time. One way to choose the right nap time is to determine it based on the time you wake up in the morning. If you wake up at 7:00 am, then the ideal nap time is 2:00 pm. If you are used to getting up at 06.00 in the morning, then you should take a nap around 13.30. For those of you who wake up early at 07.30 am, it is recommended to take a nap at 14.30 pm.

Healthy Napping Rules

So that naps can be more optimal, the following rules you need to apply:

1. Understand the purpose of the nap

There are several reasons someone takes a nap, including sleepiness or feeling tired. However, there are also those who take naps, because they want to apply the biphasic sleep method, namely dividing their sleep time into two, namely at night and during the day.

2. Don’t sleep too long

Quoted from the Sleep Foundation, one of the factors that contribute to the adverse effects of napping is the duration of sleep. The researchers found that a midday nap of five minutes was too short to produce any benefit. On the other hand, sleeping for 30 minutes or longer, gives the body enough time to enter deep sleep.

However, sleeping for too long can make your head feel dizzy when you wake up. This condition is known as sleep inertia. With this in mind, the best nap duration in most situations is sufficient to restore the body, but does not cause sleep inertia.

Naps of 10 to 20 minutes are the most ideal duration, known as power naps, as they provide recovery benefits without causing drowsiness afterwards. To avoid going too far, set an alarm or ask someone else to wake you up.

This does not apply if your nap is included in the essential nap and fulfillment nap categories. This type of sleep requires a longer duration because it aims to meet the sleep needs of children and people who are sick.

3. Take a nap at the right time

The ideal time for a nap is around 2-3pm and no later than 3pm. At that hour, a person is generally sleepy after lunch. Also, sleeping at that hour is less likely to disturb your sleep at night. However, you need to make sure that sleeping is not done after eating. Give pause 2-3 hours after eating.