Benefits of Napping for Your Mind and Body

If you’re like most Pinoys, you’ve probably had your share of sermons from your parents about how crucial afternoon siestas are — pampatangkad and all that. And, if you’re like most Pinoys, you’ve probably pretended to doze off just to avoid getting more lectures. As it turns out, mom and dad were mostly right about the benefits of napping and siestas. They come with a bunch of impressive health benefits.

One of the most popular benefits of napping is cognitive function. Power naps can help you become less forgetful. According to experts from the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Sleep, naps and sleep play a significant role in storing and processing memories.

In a study published in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, the researchers noted that afternoon naps helped facilitate declarative memory processing in people, essentially helping them to remember and process all the information they may have learned earlier in the day. Galing, ‘di ba?

According to researchers from the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory of the University of California Berkeley’s Department of Psychology, power naps can help uplift and improve your mood. Aside from that, 30-minute afternoon naps can also help strengthen your body’s stress response, which can then help fortify your immune system.

If you want to keep your heart healthy, take naps. This is according to experts from the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland, who found out in a study that people who napped 1–2 times a week were 48% less likely to have cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure compared to those who did not take naps.

It may seem weird at first, but according to two researchers from Dayton VA Hospital, Wright State University, those who want to be more productive in their tasks should take power naps before pouring themselves a cup of coffee. According to the researchers, the combination of a nap and caffeine was more effective in maintaining nocturnal alertness and performance than a nap alone. 

It is perhaps one of the least-discussed benefits of napping. It allows the body to recover much faster and triggers the pituitary gland to produce growth hormones, which can help you grow your muscles. Afternoon power naps are good additions to any fitness program.

Before crashing into bed after spending a day at the gym, make sure to wash up with LIFEBUOY Antibacterial Bodywash Total 10. Formulated with the powerful germ-fighting ingredient Activ Silver+, Lifebuoy Antibacterial Bodywash deeply cleanses, nourishes, and provides strong germ protection for your body.

Take your post-gym routine up a notch by shampooing all the sweat and grime off your hair with Dove Men+Care Refreshing Clean Shampoo, which is infused with caffeine and sparkling menthol. It deeply cleans and invigorates hair, while at the same time, provides it with long-lasting freshness.

Complete your post-gym routine with some Rexona Men Ice Cool Roll-on Antiperspirant Deodorant, which offers sweat and odor control for up to 48 hours.

If you find it challenging to take a power nap, here are some steps you can follow:

Set an alarm. Before making yourself comfortable, make sure you have an alarm set to go off after 20 minutes. You're taking power naps, not a full night’s sleep, which can cause drowsiness after waking.

Create a sleep-friendly environment. The key to falling asleep fast is by being in a conducive napping space. Ideally, it should be cool, dark, and quiet. Avoid your bedroom at all costs, as napping in your bedroom can lull you into sleeping for hours. 

Relax. Constantly thinking about your problems will keep you awake. If you’re finding it hard to sleep, try to do some meditation and relaxation exercises. These can help you fall asleep quickly and even leave you feeling refreshed right after.

People often downplay the benefits of napping. However, as the mentioned studies pointed out, there’s no harm in taking a few minutes off your workday to just nap for a bit. Your body will even thank you for it.