When napping is bad
16-07-2012
Generally speaking having a nap is a good thing. In fact, a quick powernap, between 10 and 20 minutes long, can rejuvenate you more than sleeping for two or three hours and is a great way for someone to revitalise their flagging energy levels quickly. However, as with most things in life, napping is context specific and can often be a sign of something bad.
If you find yourself needing to nap regularly then this is generally a good indicator that you are not sleeping well enough. Short term sleep deprivation is bad enough, long term sleep deprivation can have terrible physical and psychological consequences.
If you feel like you need to nap a lot of the time then your body is telling you that you are not sleeping well enough and even though a powernap can help you feel better it is no substitute for a good night’s sleep.
Don’t rely on powernaps, try and fix the underlying problem by examining your sleeping habits, sleep routine and sleep environment. It is important that you relax yourself before bed, that you avoid certain foods, drinks and activities during the night, that you try to go to bed at around the same time each night and that your bedroom is moderately temperate, dark and quiet.
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