If you’re a fan of the nap, you may feel that they help to refresh and prepare you for the rest of your day. If you’re not, you’re likely still wondering what the supposed benefits of naps are, since you always seem to wake up from them feeling groggy. This post explores the possibilities that science can reveal about links between resting and creativity!
Creativity and the Brain
Creativity is often associated with the brain’s right hemisphere, but it’s actually a series of neural processes that occur across both hemispheres. It’s tough to narrow creativity down to one description, but it can be defined in many ways.
However a creative spark feels to you, you probably have a strong sense of when it’s easiest for you to break through a block and get your best creative work done — and it’s not the same for everyone.
When Do You Do Your Best Creative Work?
It may sound strange, but a 2012 study found that those who felt they were morning people got better insight-related and analytical work done at night. Those who identified as night owls had the same results in the morning! Maybe grogginess isn’t a terrible thing for those who are trying to make new connections and solve creative problems, then — but for those looking to avoid that feeling, naps may be for you.
How Much Rest Do I Need, and How Do I Become a “Nap Person”?
Not all of us are “nap people,” so some of the touted benefits of naps may sound pretty strange to you! If you’re in the no-nap category, these considerations about nap length and frequency just might change how you feel about them.
To start, there are definitely optimal nap lengths to restore you without launching you into a full-on sleep.
What if you wish you could nap, but just feel more tired afterward? One study reveals that you might just need to make it a habit to see the benefits!
In all, it looks like creativity can be influenced by our sleeping patterns, sleeping and napping can help refresh your brain, timing and length of your nap is everything, and the positive effects are best experienced if you make naps a part of your routine.
How about you — are you pro-nap?
