The health benefits of 40 winks

The nap is a wonderful thing. Not only is it relaxing and rejuvenating, it could also save you from a premature death. A six-year Greek study has just concluded that people who took a 30-minute siesta at least three times a week had a 37% lower risk of heart-related death. Hooray. I've been trying for ages to come up with a reasonable excuse to go for a quick kip in the middle of the afternoon. Now I've got one.

If you're in a situation where you can't down tools for a few hours for a proper sleep, the power nap comes to the rescue. 15 - 30 minutes of shuteye can make an amazingly big difference to how you feel. I used to work really early shifts when I'd have nothing to do for hours on end, and I became adept at fabricating an errand and nipping off for a quick snooze. The problem would then be that I'd so aware that I only have 20 minutes that I spend the first 17 minutes willing myself to drop off, then the next 3 minutes in the deepest sleep known to man, so that when I'd wake up I'd feel like death. But I now think that's just lack of practice - my parents were both skilled power-nappers. And now that I know napping is good for your heart I might try and hone the cat-nap skill and keep my ticker nice and healthy. Now all I've got to do is convince my boss that a half hour's nap break mid-afternoon is an absolute necessity, find me a suitable sofa, and I'll be sorted. Land of nod here I come.

Via the BBC. Surely a reputable source. How could my boss disagree? Genuine catnap photo by Upakala.

Comments

[dd]

That's great.I'll see you later I'm going to take a nap.

[melisea]

this cat is sooo cute