Your Brain on Naps

Napping is not just for cats. Medical studies have found that napping has many health benefits. In fact, it is one of the healthiest things you can do for your physical, mental, and emotional health. Napping results in increased awareness, brain performance and a decrease in stress. One of the biggest benefits is that it keeps your heart healthy. People who nap reduce the risk of heart disease and heart related death.

Your Brain on Naps: Napping can improve your memory and job performance. Sleep plays an important role in storing memories. A nap can help you remember things learned earlier in the day as much as a full night’s sleep. Napping works to keep you from forgetting things like motor skills, sense perception, and verbal recall, too. After resting, the brain is also better at recognizing patterns and making connections. 

Naps are great for healthy aging. As you age, your energy levels decrease. By listening to your body’s natural rhythms and taking a nap, you keep yourself healthy. As we know, stress plays a big role in aging. Naps help relieve stress, which is key to maintaining brain function later in life. Using brain scans, scientists have found that seniors who regularly nap generally have more blood flow and activity than those who do not. This decreases the risk of cognitive decline.