The Virtues of Napping

Naps. We all long for them, but for people with a chronic illness, they are often a necessity. It’s been proven that naps are a great way to recharge oneself. Just look at all the companies now offering nap rooms to their employees, complete with cot and pillow. Those companies understand that if they want their employees to perform, they need to let them recharge their batteries.

There are other advantages to taking short “power naps” besides recharging. Experts have found that people who nap are less likely to have heart related problems than those who don’t. Napping also promotes cell repair , which can help you to look younger as well as more refreshed. Other benefits of a quick snooze include improved memory function and improved ability to learn.

People suffering from chronic illnesses have a lot to gain from napping. Fibromyalgia sufferers, for example, are constantly exhausted and are often unable to stop from dozing when they have a spare minute.

 

Studies have shown that those who get less than six hours of sleep a night are 6 times more likely to get into a car accident. These statistics are for the general public — can you imagine how much higher they would be for chronic fatigue sufferers, who already exhibit decreased alertness and response time?

But who has time to nap? Since a proper nap should only be 25 minutes or less, we should all find time. Here are some tips on maximizing the time we do have:

• Pick a comfy spot, but not the bed. Since many chronic illness sufferers also suffer from insomnia, the bed should only be associated with deep sleep and sex. Pick a couch or a comfy chair.

• Try to sleep no more than twenty five minutes. Research has shown that naps of 25 minutes or less not only recharges you, but they can actually help you sleep at night.

• Don’t nap too close to bed time. It won’t necessarily keep you from sleeping, but might keep you from falling asleep as quickly as you would have otherwise.

• If you can’t sleep, don’t worry. Try closing your eyes and resting for a short time gives you almost as many healthful benefits and is a great way to take a break and relax.

• Mid-afternoon is the best time for a nap. After lunch is when we tend to feel sluggish and start dragging, so what better time for a break?

• Don’t feel guilty. Your body needs this time. Think of it as power cycling your router: if you don’t do it every so often, it will run poorly. Your body is the same way, and worth a lot more too!

• Try and make a routine of it. If your body knows when it can rest, it will be less likely to drag you down at other times.

So with all these tips in mind go ahead, grab that pillow and get started on those sweet dreams. You deserve it!

About the Author:

Maddy Cooke is a FOG Magazine columnist. Her column, “It’s a Maddy Mad World”, appears in this section every two weeks. You can also find her writings on bipolar disorder and fibromyalgia at WannaBeNormal.com.