What is a Power Nap?
Power nap is a term that refers to the habit of taking a short nap in the range of 10 to 20 minutes.
This activity is generally intended to rest the body for a moment and refresh the mind without having to enter a deep sleep phase.
Although the duration is short, power naps can provide a number of significant benefits for health and mental well-being.
Benefits of Power Naps for Health
If you are someone who tends to be busy and easily lose focus, maybe it's time for you to form a power nap habit. Because, this activity can provide the following health benefits:
1. Increase concentration and productivity
Power naps bring significant benefits to increase concentration and productivity.
When you continue to work on tasks that require high concentration, it is not impossible for the brain to become tired and less efficient.
Well, when you give yourself a break through this activity, the brain has the opportunity to relax and restore energy.
As a result, you can return to work on tasks with a sharper and more productive mind.
2. Reduce fatigue
A very short sleep certainly won't eliminate fatigue. However, this method can at least reduce your fatigue a little.
The reason is, power naps can function as a quick reset for the brain, helping to reduce fatigue levels.
During a short nap, the body has the opportunity to restore the energy needed to overcome mental fatigue.
As a result, you can feel fresher and ready to face the next tasks.
When you don't give your body a rest when you're tired, you're prone to Afternoon Slump, a Trigger for Fatigue in the Afternoon
3. Improve your mood
Another benefit that you can feel is a more stable mood.
When you're tired, you're potentially stressed so your mood can turn negative.
If you give your body a chance to rest through a power nap, your stress levels can be slightly reduced.
That way, your mood can improve and you feel more prosperous.
4. Maintain heart health
Routinely doing power naps can actually maintain heart health.
During sleep, the body has the ability to lower blood pressure and relieve stress. When stress is reduced, blood pressure is also more controlled.
That's why short naps can help maintain overall heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Improve memory
This activity also plays an important role in improving memory and learning ability.
When you sleep, the brain actively combines memories and newly learned information.
Therefore, a short nap can be an effective time to retain information and improve memory.
This allows you to learn more efficiently.
6. Optimize physical performance
Power naps can also provide benefits for physical performance. For example, athletes who use this method to restore energy and maximize their performance.
The recovery process during a power nap helps reduce muscle fatigue and increase stamina.
As a result, a person is able to achieve more optimal physical performance.
The Difference Between Power Naps and Naps
Although power naps and naps have the same purpose, there are significant differences between the two.
Power naps have a much shorter duration, usually between 10 and 20 minutes.
While naps can last longer, often reaching one to two hours.
Power naps usually only involve light sleep and do not enter a deep sleep phase.
Naps can involve several sleep cycles, including deeper sleep phases.
Another difference is that you can do a power nap at any time because it doesn't take long.
Power naps can be done at any time during the day and don't take long.
While naps are generally only done during the day and take longer.
Power naps aim to provide a short break and refresh the mind.
Naps are more often done to overcome general fatigue or lack of sleep the night before.
References:
National Sleep Foundation. Accessed 2024. The Benefits of Napping.
American Heart Association. Accessed 2024. Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure and fewer medications.