Napping is a great way to live healthier and longer. Over the years, health scientists recorded the beneficial health effects of the afternoon nap. These studies found that a nap can reduce stress and chances of a heart attack. The University of California recently conducted a study and discovered that after a 90-minute nap, volunteers performed better in complicated written tests than those who did not nap. In honor of National Napping month, here are 5 tips for a better nap.<\/p>\n
1.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Limit the sound<\/strong>. Find a quiet place so noises will not disturb you. It is preferred that you do not have the TV on, as that could interfere with your sleep cycle.<\/p>\n 2.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Get comfortable<\/strong>. An effective nap will always come easier when you are comfortable. Jump in the bed when you take a nap.<\/p>\n 3.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nap in darkness<\/strong>. Use a face pillow or a face mask to provide darkness to make your nap more effective.<\/p>\n 4.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Set the alarm<\/strong>. Taking a long nap can throw off your natural rhythm, so keep it around 30 minutes. Also, do not take a nap close to your bed time as it could affect your nighttime sleep.<\/p>\n 5.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Watch what you eat.<\/strong> Avoid sugars and caffeine before you nap, as this could prevent you from falling asleep. It is also a good idea to avoid food that is hard to digest which could also keep you from falling asleep.<\/p>\n Napping is a great way to catch up on sleep and puts the body in a relaxed state, which counteracts the effects of daily stress. Don\u2019t feel lazy and take the afternoon nap you crave. Give your mind and body the rest it needs so you can wake up refreshed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Napping is a great way to live healthier and longer. Over the years, health scientists recorded the beneficial health effects of the afternoon nap. These studies found that a nap can reduce stress and chances of a heart attack. The University of California recently conducted a study and discovered that after a 90-minute nap, volunteers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[2175],"tags":[2177,2891,2889,2890,2892],"ppma_author":[86195],"class_list":["post-9662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-health-education","tag-health","tag-health-effects","tag-nap","tag-napping","tag-national-napping-month","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n