Naps might not be as good for you as you think



Surely, they're called power naps for a reason? Aren't naps the key to feeling alert, improving your memory and just generally having a great life? Well, they can be, but things aren't quite that simple.



It is true that a short nap can help people be more alert, improve their memory and concentration, and reduce risks around tasks with heavy machinery. Our circadian rhythms are responsible for the notorious lull that many of us feel in the early afternoon. This is the best time for a nap. Some companies have installed sleep pods for their employees, hoping to benefit from increased productivity and cognitive performance. But it is also true that naps can cause problems.



Let's start by thinking about the length. A true power nap should be less than half an hour. Any longer, and it becomes hard to rouse yourself from. Any benefits in terms of alertness are likely to disappear with the grogginess that results from a longer period of slumber.



This isn't the only issue. Naps have been linked to conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac problems. However, it's not clear whether these are direct results, or stem from the impact of napping on our sleep habits. If you take a nap after about two or three in the afternoon, it's likely to have a negative effect on your ability to get to sleep at night. Breaking your sleep cycle can lead to bad sleeping habits, which themselves become ingrained.



Of course, in the same way that naps can lead to bad sleep, it's also true that bad sleep can lead to wanting to take more naps. So, if you find yourself frequently needing to sleep during the day, experts suggest that you consider why that's the case. Are there any potential health issues that could be causing insomnia? Or are work pressures stopping you from getting enough sleep?



词汇表

power nap [næp] 能量盹（指白天短暂而能让人恢复精力的小睡）

alert [əˈlɜːt] 警觉的，清醒的

heavy machinery [məˈʃiːnəri] 重型机械

circadian rhythm [sɜːˈkeɪdiən ˈrɪðəm] 昼夜节律，体内生物钟

notorious [nəʊˈtɔːriəs] 众人皆知的，臭名昭著的，声名狼藉的

lull [lʌl] 困乏，昏昏欲睡的感觉；间歇；平静

sleep pod [pɒd] 睡眠舱（供人短暂休息或睡眠的小型设施）

cognitive performance [ˈkɒɡnətɪv pəˈfɔːməns] 认知表现

rouse [raʊz] 唤醒，使醒来；激起，唤起

grogginess [ˈɡrɒɡinəs] 昏沉，头晕眼花

slumber [ˈslʌmbə(r)] 睡眠，沉睡

diabetes [ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz] 糖尿病

high blood pressure [haɪ blʌd ˈpreʃə(r)] 高血压

cardiac [ˈkɑːdiæk] 心脏的，心脏病的

stem from [stem] 源自，由…引起

sleep cycle 睡眠周期

ingrained [ɪnˈɡreɪnd] （习惯或观念）根深蒂固的，难以去除的

insomnia [ɪnˈsɒmniə] 失眠症，失眠



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