Your eyes get heavy and gradually close... But wait! It's only lunch time and you still have so much to do. Would taking a nap help? Or would it derail your day? Well, that depends on a few things— especially what stages of sleep the nap includes. Sara C. Mednick details the cognitive benefits of napping, and explores the optimal length and time of day for a quick snooze. [Directed by Qian Shi, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Bamm Bamm Wolfgang and Gavin Dodds].

Sara C. Mednick: How long should your naps be?

How long should your naps be?

Entering REM in a 60-90 minute nap fosters creativity by making innovative connections, easing wake-up due to active brain.

Timing and length of naps affect sleep stages, influencing cognitive benefits and nighttime sleep—personal experiment advised.

Harnessing Stage 2 sleep in a 30-minute nap amplifies learning by strengthening neuronal synapses, optimizing daytime efficiency.