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Are Naps Good for You?

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#31

Post by Noumenon72 »

jonahbenton wrote: post #11
politelemon wrote: post #2

Our bodies are pretty good at telling us what it needs. Drink when you're thirsty and nap when you're drowsy. The problem we find, which elicits articles like this, is that our 'work environment' is not conducive to adhoc relaxation.

I am an old man and have learned some things about myself. I was an athlete when younger and am quite good at listening to what my various parts say when it comes to injuries or various kinds of use. Others in my age group like my wife who spent less time doing athletic work when younger are lacking this signal and get injured more often. However I also worked quite a lot when younger and do not at all hear my body s…

Did your body say it was tired or thirsty when you were young?

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#32

Post by irrational »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #24
simple10 wrote: post #16

Rather than naps, I can personally recommend yoga nidra, AKA non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) meditation. There's no effort involved. You just lie down and listen to an audio track. Lots of tracks available on YouTube and Spotify. With yoga nidra, you stay awake and get just as recharged from a good nap but without the risk of waking up groggy. It's a game changer. If you're interested in the science behind it, Andrew Hube…

Note that you shouldn't be groggy if you limit your naps to less than 20 minutes.

But, how do you limit your naps to 20 minutes? What if it takes 19 minutes to fall asleep and then your alarm goes off after 1 minute of sleep?

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#33

Post by Noumenon72 »

AlbertCory wrote: post #9

Google had "nap pods." I don't know if they still do. You could book them via the calendaring system. It was like a big half-sphere that covered your upper body & head, but left your legs exposed. You were still sitting, not reclining. You could have headphones with white noise. I tried them. Not very sleepy, for me.

If you can sleep in one of those you were probably too sleepy to safely drive home. Possible lifesaver.

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#34

Post by amelius »

irrational wrote: post #30
simple10 wrote: post #16

Rather than naps, I can personally recommend yoga nidra, AKA non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) meditation. There's no effort involved. You just lie down and listen to an audio track. Lots of tracks available on YouTube and Spotify. With yoga nidra, you stay awake and get just as recharged from a good nap but without the risk of waking up groggy. It's a game changer. If you're interested in the science behind it, Andrew Hube…

> You just lie down and listen to an audio track. > you stay awake Yeah... If I lie down, I will not be staying awake.

Perhaps you have to choose the audio track such that you don't fall asleep.

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#35

Post by 23B1 »

Every single one of these 'quantified self' health/wellness trends conclude with "listen to your body, and do what feels right"

So then... what did I need the study/supplement/podcast/coaching/snake oil for?

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#36

Post by seeknotfind »

simple10 wrote: post #16

Rather than naps, I can personally recommend yoga nidra, AKA non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) meditation. There's no effort involved. You just lie down and listen to an audio track. Lots of tracks available on YouTube and Spotify. With yoga nidra, you stay awake and get just as recharged from a good nap but without the risk of waking up groggy. It's a game changer. If you're interested in the science behind it, Andrew Hube…

One time, after sleeping only 3 hours, I held a rope on someone's backpack, and hiked 2 hours with my eyes closed, just following them (and stumbling). I even conversed the whole time and hiked 4 more hours, and afterwards I felt rested enough to finish the day.

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#37

Post by amelius »

hattmall wrote: post #28
huijzer wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterexamples: body tells you to eat more when stressed or depressed. A bit of stress is healthy for the body. Your body doesn’t really tell you to go to the gym.

The gym didn't exist as our bodies evolved. But neither did grocery stores. Stress and depression pushing you to eat more is your body telling you to get moving, in the past eating more required exerting a lot more effort.

I suppose not only to get moving but also to get cooperating with fellow hunters (i.e. social behavior).

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#38

Post by ufish235 »

simple10 wrote: post #16

Rather than naps, I can personally recommend yoga nidra, AKA non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) meditation. There's no effort involved. You just lie down and listen to an audio track. Lots of tracks available on YouTube and Spotify. With yoga nidra, you stay awake and get just as recharged from a good nap but without the risk of waking up groggy. It's a game changer. If you're interested in the science behind it, Andrew Hube…

Andrew Huberman, the same guy who panders chewing on a rubber ball to change your “face shape”?

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#39

Post by simple10 »

amelius wrote: post #34
irrational wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You just lie down and listen to an audio track. > you stay awake Yeah... If I lie down, I will not be staying awake.

Perhaps you have to choose the audio track such that you don't fall asleep.

Yes, the track matters. A good track for non-sleep deep rest will have you set an intention not to fall asleep and then keep your mind busy doing a body scan. I was the same way... skeptical I'd stay awake. But it actually works.

Try this track https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LXBzjxhdJDFiW2CWINGb3

Re: Are Naps Good for You?

#40

Post by gochi »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #24
simple10 wrote: post #16

Rather than naps, I can personally recommend yoga nidra, AKA non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) meditation. There's no effort involved. You just lie down and listen to an audio track. Lots of tracks available on YouTube and Spotify. With yoga nidra, you stay awake and get just as recharged from a good nap but without the risk of waking up groggy. It's a game changer. If you're interested in the science behind it, Andrew Hube…

Note that you shouldn't be groggy if you limit your naps to less than 20 minutes.

It's why meditation apps can be so useful, there are so many options in the 10-20 minute range and you feel much better than trying to time a nap and setting a horrible alarm sound to wake you up.

Most of them also have nice endings, in that they encourage you to stretch or something of the sort to "wake up" from your meditation.

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