Predicting the Future

The Big Nap (Mommy-Track Mysteries (Paperback))
Ayelet Waldman

I sense a nap in my future. (Or as I often refer to them to my children, a "nappy").
The Benefits of Naps: A mid-day nap is an integral part of the daily routine of many cultures, particularly those near the equator. This suggests that napping may have been part of an evolutionary mechanism to get us out of the hot midday sun. However, because the urge for a nap is appreciably weaker than the need to sleep at night, it can be suppressed (or masked by caffeine) but at the cost of increased sleepiness and reduced mood and performance. Also, because naps conflict with work schedules, they are becoming less common in industrialized societies (with the exception of college students and the elderly, who have more regular opportunities to nap). Unfortunately, this decline in napping may be causing poorer afternoon alertness and performance.
Research on napping suggests that an afternoon nap as short as ten minutes can enhance alertness, mood, and mental performance, especially after a night of poor sleep. Several studies also suggest that polyphasic sleep in the form of 30 minute naps taken regularly (every 4 hours) is the only way to reduce nocturnal sleep below 5-6 hours and still maintain performance.

Siesta (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
Ginger Foglesong Guy

...and...
The Unknown Benefits of a Nap: In a recent study, researchers at NASA showed that a thirty to forty-minute power nap increased cognitive faculties by approximately 40%! Tests carried out on one thousand volunteers proved that those who continued working without rest, made lower scores in intelligence tests like the IQ test. More importantly, their capacities to work and memorize decreased in comparison to those who napped after lunch.
Yawn. Buddha is already sleeping. Is it too early to take a nap now? Yes. Probably. Must. Drink. Coffee. Read newspaper. Read letters to editor. Get blood up. Be awake for awhile. Then nap. I'm listening to “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain from the album Psychocandy on badgeitunes61x15lite.gif .

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