Ever thought about taking a quick snooze midday (even while in the office)? Well, science just showed it might not be a bad idea.
While previous research has found that sleep improves our ability to concentrate and solve problems, a new study set out to take this idea a step further. Researchers out of the University of Bristol tested how sleep affects the speed with which we process information, both consciously and unconsciously.
Interestingly enough, the majority of the stimuli and information we receive during the day is actually taken in unconsciously. For example, when you half-hear your co-worker’s conversations or see a billboard out of the corner of your eye, you’re not actively focusing on these stimuli, but that doesn’t mean they’re not providing you with critical information.
This study found that after a nap, participants were able to more quickly process and react after exposure to unconscious stimuli, suggesting that even a short amount of sleep can help us digest subliminal cues.
Convinced to take a nap yet? Awesome—just keep a few best practices in mind: Limit your nap time to 20 to 30 minutes so you wake up feeling refreshed rather than groggy. And if you have control over your sleep environment, let in some light so your body doesn’t think it’s nighttime.
Consider yourself on the path to better quality sleep and even better decisions.
Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/having-trouble-making-decision-daytime-naps-may-be-answer
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