Mental health benefits of a nap as half of Brits admit to snoozing after lunch
The mid-afternoon slump is something many of us struggle with. While some people opt for a caffeine hit to boost their energy, it seems many of us are taking a brief daytime nap to pep us up.
While we may have considered napping as the domain of the nana, turns out a whopping half of Brits of all ages now take a nap during the day to cope with post-lunch lethargy.
A new survey, by metabolism app Lingo, found a staggering nine in ten (90%) Brits say they lack energy, with almost half (47%) admitting that they end up sneaking in a nap to pep them up.
Overall, as a nation, we take an average of four naps in a working week, which last an average of 53 precious minutes per mini snooze.
Hinting that we're affected by the post-lunch slumber, 2pm emerged as the time the nation is most likely to have a nap.
The reason we've come over so nap-happy recently seems to be a transition to more home-work with over half (54%) of working Brits agree that hybrid life has helped them get their head down more easily.
Overall, 55% of those who WFH admit they jump back into bed during the working day for a nap.
As well as taking to their boudoirs, the research also reveals almost a third (30%) of Brits regularly fall asleep on the train, while a quarter (24%) nod off on the bus and in the cinema.
A rather more dicey fifth (20%) say they have fallen asleep in the bath and 18% risk disciplinary action while dropping off at their desk.
Two thirds (66%) say that having forty winks is a highlight of their day, with ingredients for the perfect snooze being revealed as a snuggly and soft blanket (48%), no one else around (42%) and a warm room temperature.
Top ingredients for the perfect day time nap
A soft blanket – 48%
No-one else in the room – 42%
Perfect room temperature – 42%
Closed curtains – 37%
Comfy sofa – 34%
Proper pillow – 31%
Proper bed – 26%
Phone turned to silent – 23%
Windows shut – 20%
A timer on so you don’t oversleep – 18%
So what's causing this spike in day-time snoozing?
Sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan reveals that the post-lunch slump can be linked to a comedown from a glucose spike. “It’s shocking to see that a fifth of young Brits are so tired that they nap every afternoon. Our energy levels are impacted by when and what we are eating," she explains.
"It’s the process of our metabolism - and as your body breaks down food for energy, one of the nutrients that’s absorbed is glucose."
Glucose is a form of sugar which according to Dr Ramlakhan is the main source of energy for every cell in the body.
"The brain is the most energy-demanding organ and it uses roughly a half of the glucose energy in the body. In other words, we need the right amount of glucose energy to feed the brain so that we can function at our best mentally."
Mental health benefits of napping
From increased alertness and faster reactions to better moods and improved performance at work, the power nap can work wonders for for our energy levels. But there are increasingly amounts of scientific research to suggest that the advantages go even further.
One study by researchers at the Asclepion Voulas Hospital in Athens, Greece, found that day sleepers managed to maintain a lower blood pressure than those who didn’t nap, while a 2019 study in the medical journal Heart, discovered that those people who took at least two naps a week during the day were 48% less likely to suffer with serious cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and stroke.
There are benefits for our wellbeing too.
The research journal Sleep, meanwhile, concluded that taking just a 10-minute nap in the afternoon could result in considerable improvements in cognitive performance while drivers who have slept in the afternoon are less likely to be involved in a crash while driving home from work.
"Studies show that a power nap of the right duration - ideally no more than 20 minutes - can significantly enhance memory and cognitive performance," Dr Ramlakhan explains.
Napping may also reduce the impacts of insufficient sleep. For example, a small trial found evidence that naps relieved stress.
A few daytime Z's can also improve your mood, and help manage your emotions by giving your brain a much-needed break from daily anxieties and pressures.
While there are many mental health benefits of day time napping, it's worth noting that a frequent need to nap could indicate poor sleep hygiene or the presence of another underlying health condition.
And taking a daily snooze could also interfere with the ability to get a full restful night's sleep.
Of course there's also the consideration that not everyone is able to take a work-day nap, without consequences.
So while there are no doubt some plus points to getting your head down in the day, if you have noticed changes in your sleep patterns or daytime alertness it's worth having a chat with your GP who may be able to determine the cause and if necessary refer you to a sleep or health specialist.
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