Why Doctors Say You Need to Ban Daytime Napping Altogether

Rule 1: Don’t nap for greater than 20–half-hour

Dr Tandon agrees that brief naps often work finest.

“A short nap of round 20–half-hour will help enhance alertness, temper, and focus with out making an individual really feel groggy.”

The rationale? Sleep depth. Longer naps can push your physique into deeper sleep phases, making it tougher to get up and leaving you with that heavy, disoriented feeling many know all too nicely. They could additionally intervene together with your sleep later that evening.

“Quick ‘energy naps’ are often the most secure and simplest choice for enhancing daytime power,” Dr Tandon tells indianexpress.com

Rule 2: Nap earlier than 2 pm

Taking a nap earlier than 2 pm is often higher as a result of it matches the physique’s pure sleep-wake cycle (Picture: Unsplash)

“Sure, timing issues with regards to naps,” says Dr Tandon whereas including that earlier naps are likely to work higher as a result of they align with the physique’s pure sleep-wake rhythm.

“Taking a nap earlier than 2 pm is often higher as a result of it matches the physique’s pure sleep-wake cycle.”

A late-afternoon snooze, then again, might steal out of your nighttime sleep. “They could scale back sleep strain, making it troublesome to go to sleep at evening.”

An early afternoon nap is much less prone to disrupt your common sleep sample.

Rule 3: Don’t nap in the event you already sleep badly

This one will not be about self-discipline however about figuring out your physique.

“Not everybody advantages from daytime naps,” Dr Tandon clarifies.  In case you already battle with insomnia or poor sleep at evening, napping might find yourself making the issue worse.

That’s the reason Dr Tandon says high quality nighttime sleep ought to stay the larger precedence.

“Good high quality nighttime sleep is extra vital than daytime naps. Naps ought to help well being, not intervene with common sleep habits.”

So sure, the “Stanford guidelines” broadly try—however like most well being recommendation, context issues. An influence nap may be refreshing, however provided that it really works together with your sleep, not towards it.

DISCLAIMER: This text relies on info from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. All the time seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.