Power naps are known to be an excellent way to recharge batteries, clear brain fog and help us to be more alert as the day progresses. However, despite the benefits of taking a brief snooze in the middle of the day, people are conditioned to think that it’s better to sleep less and take stimulants in order to be in a perpetual state of on the go. This can have an adverse impact on their physical and mental well-being, and buying into this misinformation can also put us at a disadvantage during a crisis or survival situation. Let’s take a closer look at the pros of power naps and how they can help you to be at the top of your game during challenging times.
Improved Cognitive Functioning
Studies have shown that people who take short, 30 minute naps during the day are more likely to process information faster, make fewer mistakes and remember things better. In fact, napping can make us more than three times more-efficient when we’re performing tasks and solving problems. Additionally, we tend to remember information that we’ve just learned if we nap for a few minutes afterward.
Stress Reduction
Napping puts the brain in a state where it can purge itself of stress hormones and bring our neuro-chemicals into balance. This translates into reducing stress and boosting our ability to think positively. Stress is something that we will undoubtedly face during a survival situation, and stress can cloud our judgment, make us emotionally unstable and influence our decision-making processes. Unfortunately, many people make a lot of mistakes while under a lot of stress, and making mistakes during a life or death situation can produce tragic consequences. A short nap can help us to calm down, put things into perspective and contribute to our ability to make positive choices as a result.
Heart Benefits
There is a long list of health benefits associated with getting enough sleep, and these benefits can be magnified when we power nap. The biggest benefit is that a nap can help to lower blood pressure and improve circulation. Did you know that one day of sleep deprivation causes our blood vessels to constrict and become stiff? On the other hand, studies have shown that a short nap can restore them to their natural, healthy state.
Consequently, a nap can reduce the chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke, and it can also increase the amount of oxygen that gets delivered to organs, tissues and cells. This helps them to function at optimal levels while also promoting healing and detoxification. Good oxygenation also helps us to fight disease and recover from injuries as well. If a nap will help that process along, then that’s all the more reason to find a way to get a few minutes of sleep during the day.
Regulates Impulse Control
Brain scans have shown that people who nap have greater control over their impulses because the part of the brain that controls them becomes over-stimulated by a lack of sleep. Consequently, a nap can help us to think things through, assess risks, and make good decisions that can ultimately keep us out of trouble.
These are just a few examples that underscore the importance of taking a power nap on a regular basis. Take some time to learn more about how you can benefit from a few minutes of shut-eye in the middle of the day, and chances are that you’ll be surprised that you didn’t discover them sooner. Hopefully they will help you to get in the habit of power napping and encourage you to find ways to incorporate them into your preparedness strategies as well.
