Delicious: People who take power naps live longer

One of my favorite things to come across on the internet are those studies with a positive outcome that make you think: hey, that’s about me too. For example that red wine is good for you, having (and keeping) a cat makes you live longer and that having pizza for breakfast is not bad at all. Although I still have my doubts about that last one and intentionally only read the title and not the content, because I guess there are still a few hooks and eyes to it. Luckily, I don’t have a quattro formaggi for breakfast very often, but I now have the idea that it’s more responsible if I ever feel like it. Anyway, I found another little study. Scientists have now researched that power naps make you live longer. Look, that’s actually really good news.

I’ve never really been a hero when it comes to sleeping at night, so I usually have to make do with about 3 to 4 hours. That’s quite little, yes, and when I collapse from tiredness during the day, I always feel so guilty and ashamed when I have to (or want to) take a power nap. On my last holiday in Greece I was with a friend who, in my opinion, invented the whole concept of power napping. Every day, after lunch around four o’clock, he would dive into his bed to come out fresh and fruity. I should have known then: this is just good for you. My shame about power naps is now a thing of the past, from now on I’ll just blast the next study in everyone’s face who wants to lecture me. Even better, because there’s not just one reason why those power naps are so good, but several.

Numero uno: it’s good for your immune system. And this especially applies to insomniacs. Napping for half an hour twice (do people still use that expression? I always find it sound cute) and scientists saw that the cytokine and norepinephrine levels are back on point. What are they for? Quite a big deal, the first one is important for your immune system and the second one determines your mood and sense of happiness.

The other reasons include that it promotes your overall alertness, improves your physical endurance, and it’s also good for your memory. Oh yes, and also about the risk of heart attacks: you can reduce that chance by 48% if you lie down horizontally for half an hour. So I think there are just no downsides to power naps. It’s high time we get a nap break at work alongside a lunch break. It’s just a matter of time, believe me. The future is here.