Self-Care Tip: Power of Naps

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A good self-care tip is napping during the day. Some benefits to napping is that it costs no extra money as most people have a mattress and a blanket, some people don't even need those for a short nap. Napping can also be for everyone, and may be a very good tool to use depending on your work-life schedule as it's a good tip for shift work as shift workers may have to be awake at irregular times.

The health benefits include reduced fatigue as you're getting more sleep, which actually increases your alertness, mood, and boosts your performance. Napping can improve your cognitive functions, such as a better memory and problem-solving skills. There's also evidence that napping can reduce your stress and support your immune system if not getting enough sleep at night.

The pillars of wellness that napping can address are emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. The emotional pillar is addressed as napping can boost your mood and alertness from reducing your sleepiness. The spiritual pillar is addressed as napping is proven to reduce your stress. The intellectual pillar is addressed through the benefits towards your cognitive functioning.

Some tips to start napping are to nap for 20-30 minutes at a time, making sure to set your alarm to avoid going into a deep sleep. That time is really beneficial for most adults, but for emergency and shift workers, napping for around an hour and a half can be more beneficial to reduce fatigue more. Napping is best to do in the early afternoon so you don't affect your sleeping at bedtime. The best place to nap is in a bed, but a dark space that is comfortable is also good.

My resources used were:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, November 9). Napping: Do's and don'ts for healthy adults. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319

Summer, J. (2022, November 3). Napping: Benefits and tips. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/napping

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