Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by William  Fortunato Pexels Logo Photo: William Fortunato

Do naps count as sleep?

If you nap in the morning, the sleep consists primarily of light NREM (and possibly REM) sleep. In contrast, napping later in the evening, as your sleep drive increases, will comprise more deep sleep. This, in turn, may disrupt your ability to fall asleep at night. Therefore, napping late in the day is discouraged.

Which foods stop hunger?
Which foods stop hunger?

Top 20 natural foods to suppress hunger #1: Apples. An apple a day keeps the doctor away and hunger at bay. ... #2: Ginger. Ginger controls our...

Read More »
How do I start burning fat in the morning?
How do I start burning fat in the morning?

7 Morning Health Hacks to Burn Belly Fat #1 Start the Day with Water. ... #2 Do a Mini Core Workout Session. ... #3 Ramp Up the Intensity with a...

Read More »

Does Napping During the Day Affect Your Sleep at Night? Written by Danielle Pacheco, Staff Writer Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. Read Full Bio Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Learn About The Editorial Team Medically Reviewed by Heather Wright, Pathologist Heather Wright Pathologist Dr. Wright, M.D., is an Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist with a focus on hematopathology. She has a decade of experience in the study of disease. Read Full Bio Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Learn About The Editorial Team Fact Checked Learn More Sleep Foundation Fact-Checking: Our Process At Sleep Foundation, we personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. This hands-on approach allows us to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations for mattresses, pillows, sheets, and other sleep essentials. Guidelines for our testing methodology are as follows: We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. All scientific data and information must be backed up by at least one reputable source. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources. Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information. A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. Plagiarism is never tolerated. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s) Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Read our full Advertising Disclosure for more information. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources. We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research. A brief nap Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov can be refreshing and restorative, especially if you are sleep deprived, but longer naps late in the day can negatively impact your sleep quality and duration. A primary key to taking a successful nap comes down to timing. For most people, the ideal nap lasts 10 to 20 minutes Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Studies have also shown the best time to take a nap is in the early to mid-afternoon Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov , when most people experience a natural decline in energy and alertness.

How Does Napping Affect Sleep?

Is there a metabolism booster that actually works?
Is there a metabolism booster that actually works?

Despite the hype, supplements that are promoted as fat busters and metabolism boosters rarely have a significant effect on weight loss. If you want...

Read More »
How fast can you lose weight by walking?
How fast can you lose weight by walking?

Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to...

Read More »

Homeostatic sleep pressure, also known as your sleep drive, is a reason why you feel energized after waking up and gradually become more tired as the day progresses. Aside from considering your natural circadian rhythm and sleep drive, timing your naps correctly also requires an understanding of sleep architecture and different components of your sleep cycle. The sleep cycle Trusted Source National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. ninds.nih.gov of a healthy adult is divided into four distinct stages. The first two stages consist of light, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, during which your heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature, and brain activity will all gradually decrease. Since these are light NREM stages, you can be aroused from sleep somewhat easily. The third stage of the cycle is composed of deep NREM sleep or slow-wave sleep. Your brain activity levels, heart and breathing rates, and body temperature will all reach their lowest points of the sleep cycle. Waking people up during this stage is fairly difficult compared to the first two NREM stages. Arousal from slow-wave sleep is often accompanied by feelings of grogginess and confusion. The final stage, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, is characterized by a spike in brain activity and erratic eye movements. Your heartbeat and breathing rate will increase toward their normal waking levels, and dreams are more likely to occur during this stage. During your first sleep cycle of a given night, REM sleep typically begins about 90 minutes after you nod off. Initial sleep cycles contain more slow-wave sleep, whereas cycles in the latter part of the night include more REM sleep. If you nap in the morning, the sleep consists primarily of light NREM (and possibly REM) sleep. In contrast, napping later in the evening, as your sleep drive increases, will comprise more deep sleep. This, in turn, may disrupt your ability to fall asleep at night. Therefore, napping late in the day is discouraged.

Tips for Taking a Successful Nap

Based on findings from various studies, around 10 minutes is considered the best nap duration. This length of time allows you to catch a quick rest without entering slow-wave sleep and feeling excessively groggy after waking. One particular study evaluated subjects after they took five-, 10-, 20-, and 30-minute naps. Subjects who slept for 10 minutes reported the most improvements. They did not feel groggy or fatigued upon waking, and their overall cognitive performance after waking was strong. Moreover, they felt benefits from their nap for up to 155 minutes after waking. Those who slept for 20 to 30 minutes noted the same positive benefits from napping as those described above, but only after a 30 to 35 minute period of impaired alertness and performance. The five-minute nap did not produce many benefits for sleepers compared to those in the control group, who did not nap at all. The time of day is also important for napping. Most sleep experts recommend napping no later than 2 pm. As discussed above, napping prior to the mid-afternoon results in a combination of light and REM sleep, whereas napping after 2 pm results in more slow-wave sleep. This may affect your ability to fall asleep at a reasonable time later that night, potentially disrupting your nocturnal sleep cycle.

How long will it take a 60 year old woman to lose 50 pounds?
How long will it take a 60 year old woman to lose 50 pounds?

If you are determined to lose 50 pounds, it will take you at least 6 months to a year. To lose weight the healthy way, you should lose no more than...

Read More »
How big is a size 10 lady?
How big is a size 10 lady?

Details 5'5"–5'9" (165–175 cm) tall, average bust, average back Dimension/size 4 10 Bust 32-34 36½ Waist 22-24½ 29 Hip 33-35½ 39 1 more row

Read More »

Other tips for napping include:

If you can’t squeeze in a nap after lunch, exposure to bright light can provide a similar energy boost to help you finish your day. Consuming a moderate amount of caffeine (such as a small cup of coffee) or splashing water on your face can alleviate feelings of grogginess Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. cdc.gov

Consider wearing an eye mask and earplugs

Some people find that taking a caffeine pill prior to napping is effective. The caffeine requires about 30 minutes to take effect, so you can wake up from your nap and feel more alert shortly thereafter. That said, you should avoid caffeine for up to six hours before bedtime If you're ready for more ⟶ sign up to receive our email newsletter! Your privacy is important to us. Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Was this article helpful? Yes No Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Submitting your Answer... About Our Editorial Team Danielle Pacheco Staff Writer Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. Heather Wright Pathologist MD Dr. Wright, M.D., is an Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist with a focus on hematopathology. She has a decade of experience in the study of disease.

How can I increase my sperm volume overnight?
How can I increase my sperm volume overnight?

5 Healthy Ways to Increase Semen Volume Drink More Water. Drinking more water and keeping yourself hydrated is one of the best ways to increase the...

Read More »
Does apple cider vinegar pills help with weight loss?
Does apple cider vinegar pills help with weight loss?

Apple cider vinegar isn't likely to be effective for weight loss. Proponents of apple cider vinegar claim that it has numerous health benefits and...

Read More »
What can I drink to drop my sugar level?
What can I drink to drop my sugar level?

7 Drinks That Keep Blood Sugar Low Water. You can never go wrong with drinking water — it does make up about 60 percent of the human body. ......

Read More »
Does lemon water make you lose weight?
Does lemon water make you lose weight?

Lemon water can promote fullness, support hydration, boost metabolism, and increase weight loss. However, lemon water is no better than regular...

Read More »