Americans today have become more and more sleep deprived. With our busy schedules it is hard to get enough sleep each night, and with the holiday season creeping up around the corner, it will only get worse. The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. With people rushing to purchase gifts for their loved ones, it is hard to find time during the day to just relax and unwind. Naps are a great way to do exactly that.

Naps are a very important part of our everyday routine and can have many health benefits. Naps help us reduce accidents, mistakes, and overall fatigue. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor eating habits which leads to weight gain. Naps can also help lower tension which will lower chances of getting heart disease.

Daily naps not only have physical health benefits, but mental health benefits as well. Naps are a great way to relieve stress and improve your learning and working memory. Not only do they improve memory, but they heighten our senses and creativity and improve our mood, alertness, and performance.

Taking a nap once a day is an easy way to relax, rejuvenate, and recharge. Naps can benefit you greatly, but only if you do it right. Taking naps that are too short will not benefit you and taking naps that are too long will leave you feeling more tired and groggy than you were before. The recommended nap length is 20-30 minutes. This is just a quick nap that will rejuvenate you and leave you with more energy than you had before. The best time of day for nap taking is between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm because it is not too close to the time you wake up and it will not make it hard to fall asleep at night.

This holiday season, make sure to think of your family but also think of yourself. Go ahead and take a nap – You deserve it!