Napping your way to success?

Saw this report this morning:

"A power nap indeed works to recharge the brain, improving memory, according to findings of a study on sleep and midday napping by researchers from the University of California at Berkley. Led by study author Matthew Walker, the team of scientists compared the results of memory tests after a group of test subjects took a 100-minute nap versus those who did not.

The findings were announced at the annual meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Diego.

The results, though preliminary, showed the group that powered down for a spell during the afternoon did better on the memory test, which was designed to stimulate the hippocampus, a part of the brain thought to be linked to memory function. Walker compared napping to clearing your e-mail inbox or rebooting a computer."

Read the full article here.

One of the unexpected consequences of moving to Phoenix is I sleep a lot better at night - the allergens out here are a lot less bothersome as far as my body is concerned. I do notice that I'm able to concentrate better. At least I think I am...

Maybe it's time to return to the afternoon nap. That used to be an option when the rectory was relatively close to the parish building. It's not terribly convenient these days, but if it helps us be sharper for evening meetings, perhaps driving home is worth the inconvenience.

Comments

[Ann]

Naps rock.

[Jamie McMahon]

I recall reading an article that President Clinton took a nap every afternoon to help recharge.

You have a couch in your office, don't you? ;-)

[Fr craig]

I've been napping after lunch for years. Former bishop of Kansas and then New York, Dick Grein (sp?) used to say that for priest to survive, s/he had to 'laugh a lot, pray a lot, and take a nap every afternoon.' sounded good to me!

[Dcn Scott Elliott]

Winston Churchill took a lengthy afternoon nap every day of the war, and that seemed to work out pretty well.