Sara C. Mednick

Then one afternoon in my lab... I had my hellooo moment: Learning after a nap is equal to learning after a full night of sleep! Test scores of non-nappers deteriorated across the day! That’s what my research proved.

Our results back up what historians, anthropologists, artists and numerous brilliant leaders and thinkers have been telling their contemporaries throughout the ages. In a perfect world, all humans, including you, would nap.

The mental health picture is equally depressing. Studies have conclusively linked sleeplessness to irritability, anger, depression and mental exhaustion.

Recent breakthroughs in sleep research show that the simplest solution lies in restoring the nap, a resource as old as history itself.

You will likely notice that your moods are closely correlated with the amount of sleep you get. No amount of artificial stimulants will erase this effect. You’ll find that they only make things worse.

Don’t expect miracles. The most profound and durable changes in life take place slowly. Be patient with yourself. And stick with it.

There’s no such thing as a bad nap. Any time you spend in midday sleep will reduce the effects of fatigue and bestow benefits.

The amount of nocturnal sleep you get is the most fundamental element in any sleep profile, since it has the greatest impact on all of your wellness indicators.

Napping during the day will elevate your mood and give you a lot more energy that you can share with your loved ones. You might even discover that napping with your partner can improve the relationship!

Scientists no longer argue about whether napping is natural or unnatural, helpful or unhelpful. These are givens.