Do You Need A Nap?

The holiday season is filled with fun, and sometimes it seems as though there is a little bit too much fun. A full social calendar, extra shopping and cooking, out-of-town guests, and, for some, working overtime, can add up to a lot of stress and exhaustion.

Ideally, we should make sure we get enough sleep every night to restore our physical and mental energies. That can be challenging during the best of times, but at this time of year it may be completely out of reach.

Even when it is impossible to schedule an early bedtime or stay in bed for some extra Z's in the morning, there are often opportunities to grab ten minutes or so at random times during the day. Surprisingly, even a very short nap can restore alertness and make us feel more energized.

Some kinds of naps are more effective than others. How long you sleep (hint: longer is not always better), when and where you sleep, as well as caffeine intake, all affect how much a nap will benefit you.

Here is a chart, created by Casper, the mattress company, explaining the best way to enjoy the nap you need.