After consuming a large meal for lunch, you may slowly start to feel the symptoms of a food coma. You suddenly feel your eyelids begin to hang down. You convince yourself hard not to take a cat nap.
It’s normal to feel sleepy and tired after lunch. There’s no harm in napping for a short time to recharge and refill energy if you allowed to do so. Our bodies need short breaks, after all.
Never downplay the power of a short nap. It’s more effective and beneficial than you think it is.
Why do I feel sleepy after lunch?
Undergoing a digestive process is the main reason why you are feeling tired after a lunch meal. Nutritionists point out that when we get the essential energy and glucose from food, our digestive system triggers all kinds of responses within our body, making us feel extremely tired.
Insulin is one of the culprits to post-meal sleepiness. During digestion, the amount of insulin our bodies increase.
The excess insulin causes amino acid tryptophan to get in the brain – increasing serotonin and melatonin levels. This is where we start to gradually feel calm and sleepy.
The power of naps
You can best reap the benefits of naps if you take them right after lunch. The best timeframe to take a good nap is between 12pm and 3pm. It’s good enough timing to let your weary body get some rest after being bustled about the works.
It’s advisable to control your nap time to between 20 to 30 minutes to really give yourself a moment of rest.
According to a research report released by a foreign university, napping could enhance memory and the ability of brain processing.
When The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) observed the effects of naps on pilots of long flights, they proved that these could maintain or improve their performances. They factored in physical condition, alertness and mood. The 26-minute short nap apparently boosted the pilots’ performance by 34% and alertness by 54%.。
Now without a doubt, naps refresh people when done right. You don’t only boost memory and efficiency, but also prevent inconsistent performance at work due to tiredness.
Can I take a longer nap?
Less is more.
The ideal daytime nap is 10 to 30 minutes. This short break is enough for your body to get recharged.
But don’t overdo it. Napping beyond 30 minutes can actually do more harm than good to your body. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t make up for any sleep deficit from last night or even the nights prior. You’ll only find yourself more exhausted than before.
After waking up, it’s recommended to work right away. Try to splash some water onto your face to let your body know that the nap has ceased. It’s now time to get back to work.
Nap when you can
In today’s fast-paced society, people are considered lucky to get enough sleep. Naps are becoming more and more necessary. If you start to feel exhausted and unmotivated at work, a short nap works wonders in boosting productivity. Sometimes it’s better to rest for a bit than force yourself through a task. It saves you the time, energy, and effort.
If you have a sleep disorder, you can read the previous articles to learn more about the way workout helps you sleep better and how to fall asleep quickly.
If you have a sleep disorder or symptoms of it, please consult a doctor or specialist for treatment.