To nap or not to nap? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of napping as an adult.
While working from home can have its challenges, we’ve also collectively learned many of the perks. Chief among them: the ability to faceplant on your bed or couch and take a nap midday if you need it. But giving in to a nap and doing it *right* is a challenge unto itself.
Kids and toddlers need naps every day, but we’ve deemed naps something that you ‘grow out of’ and when you’re an adult, and taking a nap can feel charged with negativity. Even though adults get tired, sometimes you may resist the urge to catch some shut-eye during the day because you feel “guilty” or don’t want to be seen as lazy. But are naps good for you? It turns out, naps aren’t just for kids, and adults can reap the benefits of napping, too, from better cognition and alertness to reduced stress, according to Meghan Quarles, a health coach at Parsley Health.
In fact, naps should be seen as part of a healthy self-care routine. “Power naps can be very beneficial for adults in need of an energy boost or after a poor night of sleep,” Quarles says. “If you are sleep deprived, feeling groggy, or having difficulty concentrating, a power nap could help. It is perfectly healthy to take a power nap each day to improve cognition, but if you are feeling constantly tired, it’s a good idea to check in with a clinician,” Quarles says. Keep reading to find out why you should ditch the guilt, how to take a nap as an adult, and how to know when your fatigue is a sign of a bigger issue that you should speak to your doctor about.
The health benefits of napping
Better mental agility
Most of us have trouble focusing after a poor night’s sleep. But a 2021 observational study in the online journal General Psychiatry found that napping is linked to better mental agility. In the study, adults took naps for at least 5 minutes, and no longer than two hours after lunch. Study participants that took naps scored higher in cognitive performance tests compared to those who did not nap. (So, are naps good for you? Yes!)
Help reduce stress and boost your mood
Stress is draining, and if you’re stressed and sleep deprived, it’s a recipe for feeling even worse. Since feeling tired or sleep deprived can affect your mood, taking a nap during the day can help you feel more refreshed, which in turn can help boost your mood. Research shows that naps can help people regulate emotions by stopping or reversing negative emotional responses to anger or fear, and help people feel more positive and happy.
May benefit heart health
Researchers found that adults who took 1-2 weekly naps had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular complications (like heart attack or stroke) compared to people who did not take naps. We know that high, chronic stress levels are bad for your health (and heart health) and we know that lack of sleep is also a risk factor for certain diseases, so it makes sense that naps could be beneficial if you’re often stressed or tired.