IT’S TIME FOR A NAP!

LIA CiledugHigher Intermediate 4

KHAIRUNISYA DIVA ANDINI

Introduction

Sleep is something important that people do every day from Monday to Sunday in a certain period. It can’t be denied that sleep is one of the most powerful weapons to restore energy to your body. With sleep, your body has time to rest especially if you can sleep during the day. Not just to relax your body but also useful to calm nerves strained by the activities that you do. Taking a nap is a common thing to do when you feel sleepy during the day. “When you can't figure out what to do, it's time for a nap.” said Mason Cooley. But it depends whether or not napping is good for you.

Normally, people have night sleep but some others sleep more by taking a nap. Many people think that napping is such a waste of time and only young children do that. In fact, a nap is very important for people of all ages. Also, some people argue that a nap have benefits to your body. There has been a debate about this and there are people agreeing on both sides.

RESTORE ALERTNESS

INCREASE MOOD

BOOST CREATIVITY

MORE PRODUCTIVE

Naps can make you more alert

US National Sleep Foundation recommend you to take a short nap at least 30 minutes maximum. Most people feel refreshed after a nap that lasts approximately 30 minutes. So, you don’t end up feeling groggy and sluggish all over your body after napping. A little group called NASA discovered that just a 26-minute nap increases performance by 34% and alertness by 54%.

Scientific evidence suggests that consuming caffeine just before taking a short nap does a better job of restoring your alertness than just a cup of coffee/tea or a regular afternoon nap. That way when you wake up, you're not only refresh, but ready to go. But you need to remind yourself that if you drink a caffeinated beverage to boost your naps, make sure you do not overdo it; one or two cup is enough.

Naps can put you in a better mood

The National Sleep Foundation actually recommends napping for 20-30 minutes to reduce stress and improve your mood. They say to help you relax. People who take a nap tend to be happier after waking up than those people who don’t take a nap. When you take a nap then the body will be fresh and fit so that the mood will be maintained. This makes you more energetic and enthusiastic in completing your tasks. According to Dr. Sara Mednick, the author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life, a nap can reduce stress and anxiety and make you a calmer person.

Naps can boost your creativity

A better mood is not the only thing a nap can provide. Napping can also boost your creativity. No wonder famous people like Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon, and Thomas Edison are taking a nap. In 2013, scientists from Georgetown University’s Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging in Washington has found that the right side of the brain is far more active during a nap than the left side, which stays quiet while we’re asleep.

After a nap people usually do better work with less mistakes and their ideas are flowing like a river.

Naps can make you more productive

Sleeping during the day can make you more productive. Remember that you need to pick the right time and set a limit time of your nap because the well-timed nap can make you more productive at work and at home. On 2002 Harvard University demonstrated a 30-minute nap boosted the performance of workers, returning their productivity. Some people on the other side of the argument might say that naps make a messy schedule of their night time sleep, and that naps can’t make up for sleep debt, they are not fully wrong, but naps do leave you feeling refreshed, and studies have shown that people who nap may have a better health than those who do not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are lots of benefits you will get if you take a nap. A nap can refresh not only your body but also your mind. Even though many people think that taking a nap isn’t good, actually it is, because it makes you more alert, increases your mood, boosts your creativity, makes you more productive, and many more. But you need to set the limit time for your nap; do not take it too long unless you want to feel groggy after you wake up. So, what are you waiting for? Go, take a nap now.

References

5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Nap Every Day, Michael Hyatt, posted on March 29, 2012 http://michaelhyatt.com/why-you-should-take-a-nap-every-day.html

You Asked: Is It Good or Bad to Take a Nap?, Markham Heid, posted on October 1, 2014 http://time.com/3449959/is-napping-healthy/

How Naps Affect Your Brain and Why You Should Have One Every Day by Belle Beth Cooper, posted on July 25, 2013 https://blog.bufferapp.com/how-naps-affect-your-brain-and-why-you-should-have-one-every-day

6 Convincing Reasons To Take A Nap Today, The Huffington Post By Sarah Klein Posted on November 3, 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/nap-benefits-national-napping-day_n_2830952.html

The Power of the Nap, Shelby Harris Psy. D, posted on Februari 18, 2014

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-land-nod/201402/the-power-the-nap

University Saarland. "Neuropsychology: Power naps produce a significant improvement in memory performance." ScienceDaily, 20 March 2015. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150320091315.htm

25 Napping Facts Every College Student Should Know, Angelita Williams, posted on February 12, 2012 http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/02/12/25-napping-facts-every-college-student-should-know/

The Secret Truth about Napping”, Maria Allegra. http://blogs.egusd.net/ccss/files/2012/07/7thGrade-PT-with-scoring-guide-2agarxi.docx

Take a Nap, Change Your Life! by Dr. Sara Mendrick, published on 2006 www.saramednick.com/