The nap manifesto
16. Help your memory.
Much of your memory consolidation cannot occur in any meaningful way without sleep. Everything from learning a new language to remembering the periodic table of elements can be improved by adding a short nap between study periods.
17. Reduce dependence on drugs/alcohol.
Deprive yourself of needed sleep, and you’re more likely to abuse not only caffeine but alcohol and other drugs. A recent study from Denmark showed that people who complain of exhaustion are more likely to abuse drugs. Saying yes to a nap will make you less likely to reach for stimulants to keep you awake and downers to get you to sleep.
18. Alleviate migraines, ulcers and other problems with psychological components.
In one way or another, cortisol is involved in all these ailments. By reintroducing growth hormone, napping can reduce their severity. Many doctors actually recommend a cold compress and a nap to relieve migraines.
19. Improve the ease and quality of your nocturnal sleep.
Sure, it sounds contradictory, but sleeping during the day helps you sleep better at night. “Overtired” isn’t just a figure of speech. Going past the warning signs of fatigue can push you into a slightly manic state in which your body revs up so fast to compensate for lack of sleep that you can be too “wired” to fall asleep when you have the opportunity. Now doctors have begun recommending treatment of syndromes as severe as narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness through a structured program of naps. So nap now and sleep better tonight.
And finally . . .
20. It feels good.
Okay, there’s no way for science to really measure this, but millions of nappers can’t be wrong.
kassandra