The benefits of a nap are well established; on the other hand, its duration is of major importance. Several specialists have looked into the matter and reveal their conclusions. How long should you not exceed?
Four hours of sleep! This is the time it usually took Napoleon Bonaparte to recharge his batteries before returning to battle. But not everyone needs the same amount of sleep to give their body and mind enough rest to stay healthy. The same is true for the siesta. When it comes to answering the question “How long is a nap?”, there is no one answer. It all depends on certain contexts and individual needs. However, specialists have established a maximum duration to respect to reap all the benefits. Among which Marc Rey.
The president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV) actually explains that there are two very distinct types of nap: short and long. The second must last “10 to 20 minutes” and it is intended to “restore systems of awakening and vigilance”. The short nap is indicated for people who have remained concentrated for “a long time”: “We cannot maintain the same reactivity for several hours, so the body will need rest” he explains, according to the comments reported by CNews. The short nap should not “generate sleep”, it should simply allow you to “let go”. “When you wake up, you have to feel better, more rested”. Otherwise, care should be taken to shorten the resting time. Certainly not lengthen it!
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Long nap equals lack of sleep
The long nap corresponds to other needs according to Marc Rey, who explains in detail that the pace of each person can greatly influence their ability to recover well. In this case, you have to find moments of rest in a busy schedule. The president of INSV highlights the experience of workers having to get up early and who need to “recover” until “a sleep cycle, which can last about 1h30″ he reported. The neurologist states that, despite everything, in these cases it means that you are in sleep deprivation” he concluded.