The human body requires 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night, but is this enough for the body and mind to function properly? No. Running day and night exhausts people both physically and mentally, and we often need to take naps in between to refresh ourselves.
An afternoon nap can improve your mental and physical health, and taking an afternoon nap has many benefits, including improving our alertness, mood and better memory.
Reducing health problems
Afternoon naps can also help reduce distraction and reduce the risk of health accidents, as well as help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Manages stress and mood
Afternoon naps are also known as power naps and last 20 minutes. However, longer naps may be more restorative and may also cause sleep inertia or decreased nighttime sleep quality. Naps trigger the release of hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which help manage stress.

brain health
Afternoon naps help people keep their minds fresh and more creative, and improve the brain’s ability to retain and process information. It also helps consolidate memories by transferring information from short-term storage to long-term storage.
Find the right balance.
While taking a nap can help your mental and physical health, timing and duration are crucial. Napping for 10 to 30 minutes will help prevent sleep inertia, and it is better not to sleep for more than 30 minutes as a longer period will disrupt night sleep patterns.
One study also found that sleeping between 1pm and 3pm is the ideal time to take a nap, as it can improve cognitive function. It has also been proven that people who can include short sleeps in their daily routine can be happier and healthier.