Have you ever wondered how long a nap should be to have the best effect? Here’s the answer – according to science!
Taking a nap not only makes you more alert, it can also improve your mood, performance and memory. The only question is, how long should a nap really be?
Positive effects for up to four hours
A new study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) examined how a nap affects mood, attention and mental performance.
The participants in the study – 32 young adults – took naps lasting 10, 30 and 60 minutes on separate days. Although all three variants produced positive effects in the form of improved focus and cognitive function, it was concluded that the half-hour nap was the best, as it both gave good results and was practical.
According to the study, you should also take into account that it often takes a while to fall asleep – in other words, if you want to take a 30-minute nap, you may need to be away from your desk for 40 minutes.
If you don’t have time to take a longer break in the afternoon, however, a 10-minute long nap is fine: The study showed that even the shorter 10-minute naps had an invigorating and mood-raising effect for up to four hours afterwards.
