What is Your Excuse for Not Taking Power Naps?

You may already have heard of power naps countless times. The benefits of power naps, or daytime short naps, has been proven by science. Power naps tips are on the internet, on TV, radio talk shows and on newspapers. But why aren't everybody embracing power naps?

Not long ago, I too was a non-believer of daytime naps. I always thought it was a waste of time. But power naps changed everything. And daytime naps were never the same again.

Here's a short list of excuses I have encountered that discourages people from taking power naps. The list is by no means exhaustive.

1. Think it's too sophisticated
Taking power naps isn't like learning yoga. It's ridiculously simple! You just take a nap that doesn't extend beyond 30 minutes. The only 'sophisticated' equipment needed is an alarm clock.

2. Don't believe it will work
Maybe it is overrated. But when done properly, power naps can boost your energy levels and improves your productivity. The only way to find out if it works is to try it yourself. But don't just give up after one nap, try it at least for a few days.

3. Too busy for power naps
Power naps can recharge your batteries - that's why you call them 'power' naps. But often it is not possible even to spare 20 - 30 minutes on a busy day. It is a personal choice. Maybe you can do without a power nap. But if you have work on a longer work shift or a night shift, power naps can help you stay focused, and feel less sleepy while you work.

4. Think it is a sign of laziness
Your boss may not be happy to catch you during a power nap. But napping maybe encouraged by employers in the future, as a measure to boost productivity at workplaces. So if you still think that taking a nap is a sign of lethargy, then you couldn't be more wrong.

So what is your excuse? Share us your reasons for not trying out power naps.

If you have started power naps but think it's a total failure, read our post of power nap mistakes

If power napping is a totally new concept for you, you might want to read benefits of power naps

12 Dangers of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

The health risks of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) goes beyond the agony of snoring. Many studies have confirmed the ill effects of not getting enough sleep. Here's a list of conditions that can result or get worsened with untreated OSA.

1. High blood pressure
2. Stroke
3. Heart Failure
4. Heart Attacks
5. Type 2 diabetes
6. Depression
7. Obesity
8. Gastro-Oesophageal reflux disease
9. Memory loss
10. Worsening of ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
11. Adult asthma
12. Road traffic accidents

Often the severity of the above diseases and conditions vary according to the severity of OSA. So it is best to seek early treatment when you are diagnosed with OSA.

If you are worried that you might be suffering from OSA, then read our post on sleep apnoea symptoms.

If you want to try a natural way to beat sleep apnoea, then read how the aboriginal didgeridoo can help relieve obstructive sleep apnoea. 

  

Can Sleep Boost Your Memory?

Sleep plays a vital role in forming memories. A series of interesting research studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of sleep on our memory.

Sleep helps to fix memories

A group of researches at the University of Geneva have proven what we all knew by instinct - sleep helps to remember things better. They compared the memory tasks of two groups, one following a period of sleep while the other group stayed up till the end of the experiment. The results showed that the group which had the nap in between performed better at the memory tasks.

Sounds played during sleep can improve memory

It may surprise you to know that sound played softly during sleep can act as a reminder of the things learned while awake. And the result is significantly improved memory after waking up.

In a research study done by the Northwestern University in US, the volunteers who received sound cues during  their sleep performed better at the memory tasked. It seems our brain's memory systems are quite active during sleep and it is receptive to external cues. So you can basically revise what you learned during your sleep.

So far the studies have shown the benefits on existing memory before falling asleep. There isn't much studies done on learning new things during sleep. If that's possible, it will change the way we study and remember facts.

Dreaming improves memory

If sleep alone improves memory, then dreaming multiplies the effect many folds. A group of researches in Boston, US have revealed that having a dream can make a huge impact on our recall and memory tasks. The study involved remembering a path in a computer maze. Participants were given a break before the recall. One group tried to recall the path while the other group slept. The group that slept showed better results and it was better when they had a dream. Not surprisingly, it was even better when the dream was about the maze.

Dreaming has been thought at our brain's way of sorting out the 'good' from 'rubbish'. And when a task seems difficult, our brains tackle it during sleep to find a solution.

If you want to try boosting your memory during a lecture, read our post on How to sleep during a lecture without getting caught