July 5, 2020: Sleep On It

My weekly Get Your Stuff Together Sunday email series gives you one actionable focus for the week that will make your life a little easier.

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It’s been a long, trying day at work and you are anticipating packing up and going home any minute. Your eyes are cloudy and you just want to curl up and take a nap. Your mood takes a bigger nose dive when you realize it’s only 2 in the afternoon and you have hours before you can leave. There’s no way you’re going to be able to accomplish anything else today because you just can’t focus anymore. Does this sound familiar? This week, we’re going to talk about power naps.

Strangely enough, it turns out that a 15-30 minute power nap can not only increase stamina and motor skills, it can also boost creativity! According to studies by the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, “without a midday rest, we are not able to perform at optimal levels throughout the day.”

I knew that I wasn’t meant to sit at a desk for 8+ hours and expect that I could be productive the whole time. That’s why I take a nap every day. YES. Every day! Now, I know that science is behind me! Even NASA claims that a 30-minute nap could increase your cognitive faculties by about 40%.

Here’s the catch, though. There are some “rules” to get the best out of your naptime. First of all, power naps are short by definition. You will feel the most benefit if you limit it to between 15 and 30 minutes. If you go beyond 45 minutes, the reverse will happen and you can end up more groggy than before your nap. Secondly, research has shown that the best time for napping occurs about 8 hours after you wake. Most people will find that napping between 1 and 3pm is the sweet spot. Third, keep the room quiet and as dark as possible. This makes it easier for you to relax and wake up refreshed.

So, next time you’re feeling a bit groggy, try tuning out the world for a short while and you’ll come back refreshed and ready to get back to business.

Next Sunday, we’ll talk about the best foods for gut health.

Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again.

Do you have a friend who could stand to G(her)ST? Feel free to forward this!

I hope you have a wonderful week,

Kelly

Kelly Morgan, Ph.D.

Tsirona - www.tsirona.com

My weekly GYSTS email give you one actionable thing to do for the week that will make you life a little easier. As "they" say, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." Get these emails (and more!) delivered right to your inbox by clicking HERE.