Naps are a healthy addition to the daily routine, provided they do not last too long and do not interfere with a full night's sleep. The National Sleep Foundation publishes information according to which the most appropriate ones are those lasting twenty minutes.

Sleep phases are responsible for our mood

However, experts point out that longer naps can also carry some benefits. Indeed, the results of a study published this year revealed that naps lasting between twenty-five and even forty minutes reduced signs of stress and fatigue in physically active men. In addition, they had a positive effect on their concentration and physical performance.

Sleep phases affect our wellbeing

Naps that benefit our body and well-being should close in the first 2 stages of sleep. These are the most superficial stages that help us feel rested. If we don't wake up at the right time and enter the deeper stages of sleep, we can feel dull, disoriented when we wake up. Taking too long a nap also causes the brain to release compounds that help us sleep through the night.

A nap is not for everyone

Naps are a great way to give your body and mind a short rest, allowing you to return to your daily routine with strength and more enthusiasm. Of course, not everyone benefits from naps, as a cup of coffee or physical activity is enough for them. People with sleep disorders, such as insomnia, avoid naps because they make it difficult for them to fall asleep at night.

Although twenty minutes is statistically the ideal nap length for most of us, not everyone can be served by this time. In order to tailor your daytime sleep time to your body, it is advisable to take a series of trial naps between ten and forty-five minutes to really feel rested.