During the week, you may find yourself wishing that you had the chance to crawl under your desk and snatch a few zzz’s. Why is it that nap time is scheduled only for children – we adults need it too! As the pressures of work and life take hold of our every minute and drain our energy levels, feeling weary may start to feel normal. Naps can certainly provide relief for the weary, but is it healthy to sleep during the day? And is it really the cure for a hectic, draining lifestyle?

The answer is yes – but only if you do it right. Napping can actually be a great boost for your body and your mind, but only if you nap for no more than 20 minutes. The mid-afternoon 20-minute nap is coined by pop culture as the the Power Nap, and according to scientists is part of a biphasic sleep system. Some famous nappers in American history include: Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan. If these super powers are believers in the Power Nap, it can’t hurt – right?

A recent study performed by researchers from the University of California, suggests that brief napping during the day can result in some powerful brain-boosting effects. One finding of the study suggests napping may help your brain make more room for new information. Considering the fact that sleep is needed to clear the brain’s short-term memory storage, napping allows us to process and store new data. This makes a great argument when suggesting nap-time to your boss.

If you find yourself yearning for a nap, do it the right way! See below some tips on clocking a brain boosting siesta:

- Schedule your nap eight hours after you wake up, and make sure you sleep no more than 30 minutes. A 20-minute nap is ideal, and if you oversleep the 30-minute maximum your body enters a groggy hard-to-awaken state, which may be worse than not napping at all.
- Nap in a comfortable, safe environment that has dim lighting, cool temperatures and most importantly – an alarm!
- Don’t feel guilty. Napping isn’t just for babies – it has actually been a common practice for some of the most brilliant minds in history. By taking the time to power nap during the day, you are boosting your brain for optimal performance and giving your body a much-needed break from the stressors of your day.
- If you are in an environment where napping is not possible, opt for a 20-minute meditation session instead. Studies show that meditation can have the same positive effects as napping, as it allows your mind to unwind and reset. The quiet, still time will also allow your body to rest and relax.