We lead increasingly stressful lives packed with responsibilities. We have learned to accept high levels of stress as "normal". Many of us try to deal with mid-afternoon slumps by consuming coffee, energy drinks or other stimulants. But what toll does this eventually take on our bodies?
A lack of sleep can easily and quickly lead to a lower level of cognitive function. In other words, brain fog. This is usually paired with a short temper, lack of focus and general crabbiness. But it does not stop there. The building of stress in your body can actually lead to weight gain, immunity problems, blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks. We as a nation are living fast-paced stressful lives and we need to learn to slow down.
The problem is that many of us simply do not have a choice. Even if we get the exact amount of sleep needed each night, we still need to destress and regain our focus. The answer to this problem is a power nap. The term "power nap" generally means a nap that lasts between twenty and forty minutes. Briefly decompressing and taking a few minutes out of your day to recharge has shown tremendous health benefits.
Chronically losing sleep can have some very alarming long-term effects on the body. People that say they need their "beauty rest" have hit it on the nose. Keeping your body in the high-stress state of sleep deprivation can quickly age you. We are not talking only about wrinkles, but memory loss, diabetes onset, high blood pressure and obesity.
Most infants and toddlers take afternoon naps, along with our elderly population. A lot of other cultures work naps into their daily schedules. In the United States, we seem to have started ignoring this natural part of our body's function. Research shows that our bodies become sleepy and ready for a nap about eight hours after we wake up. That afternoon slump that we are all familiar with is not necessarily due to the fact that we are not getting enough sleep, but that our bodies need a short period to recharge.
People who do not take naps show measurable signs of poor work performance, decreased patience and lower cognitive function. To work naps into your busy schedule, look for NY sleep centers in your area that offer a relaxing atmosphere and specialize in relaxation services such as reflexology massage and rejuvenating naps. The list of benefits of submitting yourself to this type of treatment goes on and on. Whether you are looking for increased alertness and productivity or overall mental well being, a New York nap could be your saving grace.
About the Author: Michael Hazel is the director of operations at Yelo. Yelo is an industry leader in the art of relaxation through reflexology massage paired with sleep. If you need a New York nap, visit Yelo! Or you can experience the benefits of NY reflexology. See what everyone is talking about at http://www.yelonyc.com
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