https://hotair.com/archives/20...r-you-helathy-habit/

Finally, a scientific explanation for how some of us of a certain age have gotten so much smarter than others over the years.

Some wise cultures around the world with high noontime temperatures have midday breaks for a whole hour or two called siestas, which is Spanish for “four commutes a day.”

When many Americans were younger, naps were punishment or an enforced rest to allow a presiding adult to grab some ZZZ’s too. Decades later, naps have become like delightful little vacations.

Now, it turns out, naps are not only restorative, especially if you haven’t slept well at night. But they also improve mood (check), physical performance (meh), even the ability to learn (check) and enhanced memory (can’t remember).

This all sounds so good that it might not be totally true. But we’re going with select health literature that says it is.

Most Americans employers have this crazy notion that they’re paying to work, not sleep. So, you’re supposed to power through those dozey times after lunch when the eyelids have a lazy mind of their own.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that short naps like 10 minutes are the best for maximum benefit and least wake-up fog. Some of us do not mind such half-awake moments. They remind of a Saturday morning which by the wais now only two days away.

One study a few years ago found:

The benefits of brief (5-15 min) naps are almost immediate after the nap and last a limited period (1-3h).

Longer naps (> 30 min) can produce impairment from sleep inertia for a short period after waking but then produce improved cognitive performance for a longer period (up to many hours).

The time of day that seems to produce the most benefits is early afternoons.

And another key factor is that nap benefits increase most when they become regular events, as in a habit at roughly the same time of day. The body gets into its own rest rhythm.

That means that you won’t get much benefit from a snooze during tonight’s second two-hour Democratic primary debate. Other than not having to listen.

Whenever I'm asked what the best thing about retirement is I typically reply, naps. Naps any time I want. Naps as long as I want.

Jim

Sorry, what did you say? I dozed off!

Wait, what? Someone actually listens to the drivel I put out? The reason young people don't partake is because they now have their own unruly kids that create all kinds of noise. Even my wife doesn't bother me when I'm napping. I learned to become a real pain when I'm brought back to wakedness. Try it. Someone wakes you up from a nap, just raise hell for a while.

They realize it was better with you cutting zzz's.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
... Someone wakes you up from a nap, just raise hell for a while.

They realize it was better with you cutting zzz's.

It sure worked for Tsao Tsao.

Indeed.

I nap for an hour pretty much every day. Usually hit the rack around 1pm but it could be as late as 3:00 or 3:30 if I'm "busy".

Grouch Mode is my default. Those in the know avoid interrupting my nap for anything short of a death in the family. It took my wife a few times to learn this but she now guards my sleep like a pit bull.

I WOULD have responded to this thread earlier but I took a nap before supper.

This is the smarter, nicer version of rburg?

If there is nothing else to occupy my time, I like to take a siesta myself, around 3-4 PM. Work obviously doesn't permit it, but at least one day of a weekend does.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
This is the smarter, nicer version of rburg?

You ain't seen nothing yet.

So you are saying I am going to have the dumbest and meanest kids around?

Working a 12 + hour night shift, often with little/ poor sleep during the day, I cherished the times I was able to sneak a nap in. One company that I worked for had a strict no-sleeping policy (I'd guess due to potential safety concerns) and so some of us would sneak off to the parking lot and grab a nap in our cars on our lunch breaks...although if one of the roving security guards caught you sleeping there could be problems.

Years later, working for a different company but in the same industry, and also working a 12 + hour night shift, this company not only allowed employees to take a nap on their breaks but they actually set up an informal lounge with easy chairs and foot rests, some even with small partitions and it was common to see a few workers throughout the night napping.

One of my guilty pleasures in life is to take a siesta with a ball game on the radio. Depending on who is playing and who is pitching I'll catch the first 2 or 3 innings, then fade out with the ball game in the background, and wake up around the 6 to 8th innings and catch the end of the game.

Chili cheese dog + cold beer + ball game + siesta= Sweet Bliss!

At 46, I can tell you that after a nap I feel worse. But I also know that probably won’t always be the case.

I usually hit the sack around 11 pm and am always up before 6 am. And yup, I take a nap most everyday after lunch. I've been telling my wife for years that it makes me a better person.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
Whenever I'm asked what the best thing about retirement is I typically reply, naps. Naps any time I want. Naps as long as I want.

Jim

Amen, brother, amen!

flashguy

I have always thought it irritating our American culture largely treated naps as 'childish' or 'weak' when many articles I have read have touted the positive aspects of a short mid-day sleep break.

Basically - humans are designed to get the best performance sleeping twice a day. Close to ideal for most results would be like 7-ish hours 'at night' and a nap of like 30 mins in the early afternoon.

of course individuals vary

---------------------------------

some times I wake up from one and tell my wife "I haven't had a nap like that in years."
Actually probably been less than a week or so

She is on to me.

And yes I buy into that theory myself.

The best naps are during a “How It’s Made” marathon on Discovery. Something about that voice.

quote:

Originally posted by SigJacket:
The best naps are during a “How It’s Made” marathon on Discovery. Something about that voice.

I actually slept through one last night. I switch to it when NCIS: Los Angeles finishes, then fall asleep.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
This is the smarter, nicer version of rburg?

Yeah, now just imagine him with 2 naps per day!