What is the best time to sleep in the afternoon?

Many people do not have the habit of taking a nap. There are many reasons behind this, such as it is related to work. Some people cannot take a nap because of work. Many people have no desire to sleep at noon and always like to play games or watch TV, etc. Here we remind everyone that it is best to develop the habit of taking a nap. Taking a nap is good for physical and mental health. So how long is the most appropriate time to sleep at noon?

What is the best time to sleep in the afternoon?

We all know that naps are generally meant to help people relieve fatigue, allow the body to rest, and increase physical strength. However, many people's nap methods are inaccurate, for example, they have no concept of time. The following introduces the best time for naps for different groups of people.

Why do we need a lunch break? The importance of a nap

German researcher Campbell believes that the sleep cycle is controlled by the brain and undergoes certain changes with age; he also found that naps are part of the natural sleep cycle.

A sleep research expert at the University of Florida said that napping has gradually evolved into a way for humans to protect themselves. Initially, lunch break may have been just a way for people to avoid the scorching sun at noon, but later it gradually became a habit. At that time, humans lived in warm areas, and outdoor labor was the most basic condition for people to survive. Therefore, lunch breaks have become a way for people to avoid being hit by heat waves.

Research also shows that naps are a manifestation of normal biological rhythms of sleep and wakefulness and are essential for staying awake. Many people, especially those who do mental work, will realize that their work efficiency will be greatly improved after a lunch break.

Foreign data show that in some countries and regions where people have the habit of taking naps, the incidence of coronary heart disease is much lower than in countries where people do not take naps. This is related to the fact that taking naps can relax the cardiovascular system and reduce tension in the human body. Therefore, it makes sense that some people compare lunch break to the best way to "recharge your health."

How long is the best nap?

Taking a nap for 1-2 hours at noon can relax and rest the brain and body systems, improve the body's immune function and enhance the body's disease resistance. Although taking a nap is a good way to promote health, it also requires scientific approach, otherwise it will be counterproductive. Therefore, when taking a nap, you should pay attention to the following five aspects:

1. Don’t eat too greasy food or overeat before going to bed. Because greasy food will increase the viscosity of the blood and aggravate coronary artery disease; overeating will increase the burden on stomach digestion. Many people are accustomed to sleeping after lunch. At this time, the stomach has just been filled with food, a large amount of blood flows to the stomach, blood pressure drops, and the brain's oxygen and nutrition supply decreases significantly. Falling asleep immediately will cause insufficient blood supply to the brain.

2. It is best to control the nap time within half an hour, otherwise you will feel very uncomfortable when you wake up. Taking a nap that is too long will disrupt your biological clock and affect your sleep patterns at night.

3. Although a nap is just a nap, you must not be too casual. Do not sleep while sitting or lying on the table. This will reduce the blood supply to the head, causing symptoms of brain ischemia and hypoxia such as dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, etc. after waking up.

If you use your hands as a pillow, your eyeballs will be put under pressure, which can easily induce eye diseases over time. Lying on the table will compress the chest, affecting blood circulation and nerve conduction, causing numbness and tingling in the arms and hands. The ideal nap position should be lying down comfortably, either flat on your back or on your side, preferably with your head high and your feet low, on your right side.

4. No matter how hot the weather is, you should cover your abdomen with a towel or quilt when taking a nap to prevent cold air from entering.

5. Do not take a nap in a place with drafts or air vents. Because the body's temperature regulation center function declines during sleep, mild cases may feel uncomfortable after waking up, while severe cases may catch a cold and become sick.

The best time for naps for office workers

Don’t go to bed immediately after lunch, as this is not conducive to the digestion of food. You can do some light exercise, walk around, and then take a nap. Secondly, the nap time should not be too long, no more than 1 hour is appropriate. If you take a nap for too long, you will enter a deep sleep and feel uncomfortable when you wake up. At this time, you can wash your face with cold water and drink some boiled water to dilute the blood viscosity.

In addition, do not take a nap in well-ventilated places such as corridors, especially not facing the air conditioner, as it can easily cause colds, joint pain, muscle soreness, especially back muscle soreness, and in severe cases, facial paralysis.