Some people are really fond of
taking naps regularly after tiring days at school or work, or after pulling
all-nighters socializing or finishing the deadlines. They find curling up and
stretching their bodies on a bed for, at least, two hours at afternoon are
extremely necessary in order to relieve the stress from facing a pile of
assignments to work on. Although it is true that the nap itself has been proven
to boost people’s productivity in work as well as their brain functions such as
memorizing and quick-deciding as it was reported in an article in the 2014
August and December issues of TIME,
constantly needing long period of naps may be an indicator of undetected health
problems, and nappers are more likely to have higher mortality rates (Leng et
al., 2014). With that being said, it is rather problematic to prevent people
who cannot bear the afternoon sleepiness from taking naps. Therefore, it is
best to think that nap is good for health as long as people do the following: adjusting
the length of naps, getting good night sleeps, and consuming caffeine before
taking naps.
The urge of dozing off in the
afternoon is actually normal, but do take a note that a good nap only takes
time between 15 to 90 minutes a day (Ehrman and Mednick, 2006). According to
Michael Grandner, a psychiatry instructor at University of Pennsylvania’s
Perelman School of Medicine, once people get a 30-minute of power nap, their
brain will function normally again, as if their brains were reset to the normal
states; whereas, if people prolong the period of sleep, they will fall into a
deep sleep—and it will make them wake up feeling awful and lazy. This, consequently,
will result in procrastination for the rest of the day. To get a better nap,
people also need to pay attention to the places where they sleep. Whether it is
in class, office, or home, ensure that must be quiet and calm enough so they
can relax. By combining the brief power nap and the right conditions, people can
wake up feeling energized and they are good to go.
Along with adjusting the length of
the naps, people need to consider getting good night sleeps. Not all people
need a long nap; but, they could need one if they suffer from sleep
deprivation. It is important to bear in mind that night is the best time to
restore the body to its normal function; therefore, to avoid the tendency of
getting lengthy naps, 7-8 hours of night sleep are required. If people can
afford plenty of proper good night sleep, 15 minutes of naps will be more than
enough to rekindle the body and brain again.
In addition to above-mentioned
suggestions, people also may need to consume some drinks containing caffeine
e.g. coffee and tea that will contribute to a better power nap (Hayashi,
Masuda, and Hori, 2013). Contrary to popular belief that caffeine intake may
keep people awake instead of helping them to sleep, drinking tea and coffee
before sleeping will magically rejuvenate them. The effect of caffeine will
kick in about 20 to 30 minutes after it is consumed—that is why it will enhance
the benefits of naps against afternoon drowsiness.
All in all, it is possible to
conclude that daytime naps are actually good for health—only if they are
performed under some appropriate methods and circumstances: right length of
naps, plenty of good night sleeps, and enough caffeine intake. It is very
crucial for everyone to keep their bodies fit and healthy, and taking powerful
naps each day could pave the way to achieve it.
Annisa Lista Sari
Mid-term Essay
No comments:
Post a Comment