Catch up on your Sleep with a Nap UNLESS You Have Insomnia

Although you would think that taking a nap would help you catch up on some much needed sleep if you have insomnia, but this can actually make things a lot worse.  If you have insomnia, naps can negatively affect your nighttime sleep.  Staying awake throughout the day will increase your body’s desire to sleep at night.  For those of you do not have problems sleeping, but are not getting enough sleep due to other circumstances, a short nap during the day is a great way to catch up on lost sleep.

How to Help Insomnia

Insomnia can really impact your life.  Lack of sleep can completely turn your world upside down.  It affects your focus, which can mess up many areas of your life, whether personal or business.  To combat a mild case of insomnia, you should shorten your nighttime sleep by going to bed 30 to 60 minutes later than usual but waking up at your normal time.  At first, you will feel tired, but eventually (after around three weeks), you will build up a sleep debt.  This will help you fall asleep faster so that you spend more time in the deepest stage of sleep.

If your insomnia is caused from depression, sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, it is important that you contact a doctor.  Restricting your sleep is not the answer, as you should have the underlying problem taken care of.

If your life has just become a lot more hectic and you just aren’t getting the sleep you need, a short half hour nap can help you catch up on your sleep.  Be sure you take a nap before 2 p.m. and get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  Sweet dreams!