To Nap Or Not To Nap; That Is The Question

It’s Q&A Day at 10almonds!

Have a question or a request? We love to hear from you!

In cases where we’ve already covered something, we might link to what we wrote before, but will always be happy to revisit any of our topics again in the future too—there’s always more to say!

As ever: if the question/request can be answered briefly, we’ll do it here in our Q&A Thursday edition. If not, we’ll make a main feature of it shortly afterwards!

So, no question/request too big or small

❝Is it good to nap in the afternoon, or better to get the famous 7 to 9 hours at night and leave it at that? I’m worried that daytime napping to make up for a shorter night’s sleep will just perpetuate and worsen it in the long run, is there a categorical answer here?❞

Generally considered best is indeed the 7–9 hours at night (yes, including at older ages):

Why You Probably Need More Sleep

…and sleep efficiency does matter too:

Why 7 Hours Sleep Is Not Enough

…which in turn, is influenced by factors other than just length and depth:

The 6 Dimensions Of Sleep (And Why They Matter)

However! Knowing what is best in theory does not help at all if it’s unattainable in practice. So, if you’re not getting a good night’s sleep (and we’ll assume you’re already practising good sleep hygiene; fresh bedding, lights-off by a certain time, no alcohol or caffeine before bed, that kind of thing), then a first port-of-call may be sleep remedies:

Safe Effective Sleep Aids For Seniors

If even those don’t work, then napping is now likely your best back-up option. But, napping done incorrectly can indeed cause as many problems as it solves. There’s a difference between:

• “I napped and now I have energy again” and you continue with your day
• “Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth—but it was not the end.” and now you’re not sure whether it’s day or night, whose house you’re in, or whether you’ve been drugged.

These two very common napping experiences are influenced by factors that we can control:

How To Nap Like A Pro (No More “Sleep Hangovers”!)

If you still prefer to not risk napping but do need at least some kind of refreshment that’s actually a refreshment and not just taking stimulants, then you might consider this practice (from yoga nidra) that gives some of the same benefits of sleep, without actually sleeping:

Non-Sleep Deep Rest: A Neurobiologist’s Insights

Take care!