When you’re typically tired, the first thing someone might say to you when you express that is, “Why not take a nap?”. Naps have always been seen as the solution to being tired and are typically seen as the better alternative in society rather than drinking multiple caffeinated drinks. However, are they actually a good use of being more refreshed after or due they lead to more harm then good?

Well first it must be asked, why nap in the first place? Naps are typically taken as a result of poor sleep the previous night, however if drowsiness continues throughout your following days it could be a sign that you may have a sleep disorder according to Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Health Publishing also claims that the biggest issue with typically napping is how long your nap may go on. If you are severely tired, it isn’t a shock that you may sleep for an hour or two with the expectation that you will feel refreshed after. However this couldn’t be further from the truth. The average recommended nap time only sits at 20 minutes. By napping for only 20 minutes, this will in turn make the body feel more refreshed after words and not be too much sleep to ruin your sleep later that night. If gone over this recommended time, the consequences are much more than I think a lot of people expect to hear. If you sleep for longer than 20 minutes in your nap, you will end in a consistent cycle of ruining your sleep for later that night by sleeping most of your tiredness off during the day. More tragically however, those that take longer naps end up with a much higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and depression according to the Harvard Health Publishing once again. This is a far cry from how many view naps as being nothing more than just an opportunity to catch up on some simple sleep without any harm however it really is. If you consistently take long naps it will heavily affect you later in life even if you don’t realize it.

I love taking naps, I really do love being able to rest for a portion of my day that is typically filled with a lot of work. So, having that moment of just closing my eyes and then resuming is great. But, as seen today it must come in moderation. Please be mindful about how long you are napping and consider paying more attention to your overall sleep habits to get yourself out of taking naps often.