Catnapping for better brain

The short sleep-wake cycle where the little one wakes up in 30-45 minutes after being put to sleep?is called 'catnapping'. Cat nap, siesta, power nap, micro-sleep… whatever we call it, taking a short nap during the day has been part of many cultures for thousands of years. And yet it seems that this habit is becoming less popular as time goes by, even in cultures that traditionally embraced it.

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So, what exactly is a?cat nap?

A cat nap or siesta is a short period of sleep that takes place during the day. Cats have a polyphasic sleep pattern, which means they sleep multiple times each day rather than in one, long period, like humans generally sleep. The time at which you have a cat nap is also important. Our bodies have a stronger biological need to take a rest between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This midday sleepiness is built into our biological clocks.

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Scientists found that people who napped for 30 to 90 minutes had better word recall – which is a sign of good memory – than people who did not nap or who napped for longer than 90 minutes. People who napped for that golden 30 to 90 minutes were also better at figure drawing, another sign of good cognition.?

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Five benefits of cat napping

Taking a cat nap at the right time of the day and for the right duration can benefit your physical and mental health. Here are five examples: ?1. Lower blood pressure; 2. A lower risk of heart disease; 3. Better concentration; 4. Improved memory and 5. Better control over emotions

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Tips to help you cat nap- For a cat nap to work and have a beneficial impact on health, it’s important to get it right. Here are some suggestions that can help: 1) Limit the length of your nap.? 2) Target the early afternoon hours.?3) Schedule naps regularly, and 4) keep your room dark, cool,?and quiet. ?

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CAT NAPPING at work?

While sleeping on the job is traditionally frowned upon, cat napping at work can actually be good for business. It has been estimated that sleep deprivation is a health threat that costs American businesses billions of dollars?each year in lost productivity, sick days, and burnouts. The solution to this is to bring nap facilities into the workplace

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Conclusion: Taking a short siesta or cat nap isn’t a sign of laziness. Cat naps can be good for you. “One study found that cat napping once or twice a week lowers the risk of stroke, heart failure and heart attack by 48 per cent.”

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Thanks.

Sundarraj.S

Leadership Coaching, HR Strategist and Risk free HR Compliance.