Are Naps Actually Good for You?

An ideal nap length is 15 to 30 minutes.

While kids try to avoid naps at all costs, adults usually love them and there are quite a few benefits to taking a mid-day snooze. They’re a great way to refresh physically and cognitively. One study even found that they help improve working memory performance. They’re especially helpful when you’re feeling under the weather as naps help support the healing process. While these benefits are great, there are some people who should avoid sleeping during the day. If you have difficulty sleeping at night, experts say to avoid napping or at least shorten the time that you do. Speaking of the length…pay attention to how long you actually snooze for. Longer naps, such as an hour or more at a time, have been linked to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and depression. An ideal nap length is 15 to 30 minutes.