Why lapping is vital to your mental and physical health?
40% of the American population suffers from some form of sleep disorder,
Either short-term or chronic,
Not to mention all those who simply have trouble getting through the afternoon at work.
Naps are an easy but often overlooked or even taboo way to increase energy,
Alertness,
General well-being,
And decrease stress and anxiety.
Throughout our lives,
We are and will be led to live through difficult experiences such as the loss of someone,
A serious illness,
The loss of a job or a relationship.
These periods demand that we rest and sleep in order to heal,
Repair and recover,
And also have the energy to continue our lives where we are needed by our family and community.
This is why I do not advocate the 8-hour sleep guidelines.
We all have different life circumstances and our need for sleep can greatly vary.
We shouldn't feel guilty or embarrassed about indulging such a natural and totally necessary need for our survival and mental health.
Feeling tired is our body's way of telling us to rest,
So what if you need 10 hours right now?
This has happened to me more than once and then it passed as my body recovered from what it was fighting against.
Sleep has a reconstructive function at the physical and mental level.
That is why it is normal to sleep a lot more when we are grieving,
In depression,
But also when we are stuck in a position we do not like,
For instance a job we hate,
Because forcing ourselves to perform requires more energy.
As a result,
We are more tired and depressed and we lose more energy than we store,
Which is why we feel the urge to sleep,
In other words to repair.
The afternoon's natural energy loss,
Coupled with a heavy meal rich in carbohydrates,
Can increase for some this tiredness.
It would be nice to live in a society where the siesta would be an integral part of the daily routine,
Because whatever problems we all face in our lives,
Even those who reject the idea of a nap,
Will always follow our survival instinct,
Which is to heal ourselves.
If not,
Our physical and mental health will be affected,
Which unfortunately happens all too often.
Mental health can be addressed through psychotherapy,
Meditation and mind-body practices,
But in addition to this,
The body has a sophisticated and powerful sleeping system.
This is why napping is the best alternative to night time sleep,
For it is short and easy to implement into a routine.
Sleep is governed by two levels of regulation.
One,
Homeostatic regulation,
Which is an internal balance.
The ability to follow sleep increases with sleep deprivation and decreases when sleep occurs.
Second,
Circadian regulation.
It's a type of control that takes place at the level of our central clock.
The sleep pressure is maximal between 1 and 5 am and also between 2 and 4 pm.
This naturally explains the loss of energy after lunch.
Napping at that time is natural and should be a common act if it wasn't so taboo.
The truth is that napping at work is socially difficult,
But mentalities are changing.
So if you work at home,
You should take advantage of this opportunity to nap.
This will play a very important role in your everyday quota and consequently help you with your insomnia problems.
If you work in an office,
You should know that more and more people spend their lunch breaks in their car to sleep.
Know that in Japan and other capitals of the world,
You can find sleep bars.
And finally,
Know that more and more companies understand the value of napping as a way to increase their staff productivity and improve their quality of life.
Collective limiting beliefs on napping fade away,
Considering that it takes only 15 to 20 minutes,
Which is quite simple to establish.
Before closing,
I'd like to say that it's important to know that the perfect nap does not mean falling into deep sleep,
Which corresponds to the Delta Mode brainwaves.
The Theta Mode,
Quote-unquote in between state,
Or Hypnotic Mode,
Occurs when you feel somewhere in between.
This is the most pleasant moment in my opinion.
However,
When we wake up in the middle of a deep sleep,
We can feel like we are not finished,
And we often find ourselves more tired than before the nap,
Which is frustrating.
15,
20 minutes,
Or even 30 should keep us in this Theta Zone.
To prepare before a nap,
I recommend that you lie down and close your eyes.
Put your hands on your belly and take 4 to 5 deep breaths from your stomach.
Letting your hands follow the flow as your stomach rises and falls,
Concentrate on your breathing and relax.
If you're stressed,
Angry or in a hurry,
15 minutes won't be enough.
Once you're calm,
Put on your headphones and press the play button.
In conclusion,
It is our fear of being judged which tells us that it's not possible to sleep during the day.
As I told you before,
More and more people are having a nap in their car during the lunch break.
There is always a bench,
A couch,
A chair,
A quiet corner,
For example.
Not always away from co-workers' eyes.
But I believe that it is time to stop living through the eyes,
The judgment and the validation of others,
And start breaking away from the herd and living our lives.
Both our mental and physical health depend on it.
I recommend that you subscribe to Inside Timer's nap playlist and find my own progressive nap sessions,
Guided practices and music designed for your napping,
As well as those of your favorite teachers.
You can also visit my profile.
I wish you plenty of restorative naps.
Namaste.
Thank you.
