By Maxwell Modell

At the moment we all have one thing on our minds; Coronavirus. How can we stay safe? How does the virus spread? What precautions are the government taking to tackle the pandemic? What precautions should the government be taking to tackle the pandemic? It’s all a little bit overwhelming. But we can all take a step back. More than anything we need to keep calm and remain healthy and rational in this trying time. Napping can help us do this.

A Recovery Nap Can Boost Your Immune System

Making sure we get enough sleep is one of the best ways we can improve our immunity and defend against viruses and disease. Sleep is a natural immune booster. Yet at ProNappers we understand this is not always possible. Many of us struggle to get our recommended 8 hours of sleep each night, 79% of us to be precise. Whether it’s an intense working schedule, fears and anxieties surrounding Coronavirus, menopause, or countless other causes, there are many reasons why we may find ourselves underslept. While understandable, sleep deprivation is damaging our health.

Sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on brain function, metabolism, hormones and compromise your immune system. Research in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism by Brice Faraut and colleagues shows that short recovery naps can offset this impact. 

A recovery nap is a short 20-minute nap designed to get you back on track when life gets in the way of a good night’s sleep and a powerful countermeasure to sleep debt. 

In laboratory conditions, Faraut’s studied 11 healthy young men, in two groups, who typically slept seven to nine hours each night, didn’t smoke and didn’t normally take naps. In one group, the men slept normally for one night but were then only allowed to sleep for two hours the next night. They could sleep as much as they liked on the third night. The other group was the same except the men were allowed to take naps the day after their sleep was restricted.

The results showed that lack of sleep decreased the presence of an immune regulating molecule called Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an important mediator of fever. However, levels of Interleukin-6 remained normal in the participants who had been allowed to nap.

Keeping our natural defence as strong as possible is more important than ever and napping can help us do this even if we have failed to get an adequate night’s sleep.

Napping, Mental Health and Self Isolation

If self-isolating, a regular sleep and eating schedule is vital for bringing a sense of order and normality to days which are anything but. Incorporating a planned afternoon nap into this schedule can help you feel fresh and keep your spirits high. Naps have been shown to reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, so napping is a natural mood lifter and can help you remain positive.

Helping You Get the Perfect Nap

If you need help relaxing into your perfect nap we’re here to help with our Nap Essentials. 

Our Nap meditations will help you drift off for a 20-minute power nap and gently wake you, refreshed and ready for the rest of your day. ProNappers have designed these Nap meditations with Mindfulness expert David Mayes. David will guide you through your nap, helping you to relax and switch-off knowing that the next 20-minutes is the best use of your time.

We’ve also created our Nap Aroma Inhaler with Clinical Aromatherapist Sara Enock, utilising a bespoke blend of pure essential oils; including lavender, sweet thyme and bergamot. It is designed to help users unwind and drift off for a nap followed by a sense of feeling uplifted and refreshed. 

“I’ve been using my Inhaler for a month now and it has turned me from a stubborn life-time non-napper to a convert for this quiet revolution in self care.” Lucy H

“I now nap more or less every day, and using the Nap Aroma Inhaler has become an important part of the daily routine. It has a lovely ‘scented kick’ and feels very refreshing.” Mark S

Now is the perfect time to make taking a nap part of your daily care for a healthy mind and body.