Why power naps live up to their hype

By Brian Maynor

 

As a child I hated taking naps, but that didn’t get me out of them every Sunday after lunch.  Little did I know my mom was actually doing me, and my brain, a huge favor.

In 1995 NASA conducted a study with 747 pilots and the benefits of napping.  The groundbreaking study proved napping for about 25.8 minutes boosted vigilance and reaction time.

Some of the other benefits of napping include:  boosting short-term memory, reducing errors and improving learning, but the length of your nap matters.  If you need a boost in energy and alertness take a 10-20 minute nap.  If you want to improve your memory or learning then you want to take a 60-minute nap.  Ninety-minute naps are a full sleep cycle, so those are ideal for improving emotions and procedural memory.  You want to avoid 30-minute naps if possible, because they cause sleep inertia, that hangover-like feeling, and could up to half-hour to dissipate.

How do you know when you need a nap?  Here are some of the most common signs:

1.   Constant crankiness.  Being sleep deprived causes us to be more irritable and less capable of handling stress.

2.    Always hungry.  Who would have thought that lack of sleep could lead to being hungry, but it can.  According to one study, if we don’t get enough sleep we have decreased levels of leptin, the hormone that inhibits hunger and regulates energy.

3.    Frequently zoning out.  This is our brain literally trying to catch up on sleep when we won’t let it rest.

4.    Breakouts and puffy eyes.  Sleep regulates our hormones, and not just leptin.  When we don’t get enough, we can have breakouts and other skin reactions.

Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee at 2 or 3 maybe we should reach for a pillow, dim the lights and get comfortable.  Early afternoon is this the perfect time for a nap because it is after lunch and won’t interrupt your nighttime sleep schedule.

To help you relax at work, throw an eye mask and earbuds into your bag.  They will help block light and noise.  Don’t forget to silence your phone.  Having a colleague or assistant wake you up in 20 minutes will help you better relax and not focus on waiting for your alarm, and ensure you don’t over sleep.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty.  Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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