This is one of my favorite longevity tips, but don't get the wrong
idea! Sleeping your way to 100 means power naps. Power naps: 10, 20, 30
minutes a day really rejuvenate and refresh your body. Read on to
discover how they factor into your longevity plans.

Power Up with a Power Nap
A
long-time tradition in Latin countries, a siesta is a great way to
jumpstart the second half of your day. Famous nap enthusiasts have
included some of the best minds in history, such as Albert Einstein,
Winston Churchill, and Thomas Edison. What they knew was that a
midday snooze - while seeming to be an unproductive use of time - could
actually increase their effectiveness. Some of the reviving benefits of
naps include enhanced cognitive function, better reaction time, more
patience, stress relief, and better overall health. So how long
should your power nap be? It differs from person to person, but on
average, a brief nap to revive the brain should be between 15 and 30
minutes. Sleeping for any longer will get you into deeper stages of
sleep, from which it is difficult to awaken. (If you are napping to
compensate for significant sleep loss, you would of course want to take
a longer nap, and research has much to say about the restorative
benefits of lengthy naps.)

Nap Advice to Take to Heart
In
America, coronary heart disease is the single largest killer of men and
women. Taking a midday nap is one of the best ways to lower stress on
your heart. The body follows a circadian rhythm and according
to Chinese medicine, noontime is the peak hour for the heart. In order
to strengthen your heart, Chinese doctors advise that you rest and
engage in calming activities at this time of day. Studies show that
people who napped 30 minutes every day were 30 percent less prone to
heart disease than those who didn't take a midday snooze. If you want
to live to be 100, you need to take a few naps along the way!

Snoozing on the Job
In
this modern society we are pressured to work hard and then play hard,
living by the saying, "You can rest when you're dead." Although catchy,
it should probably say: "If you don't rest regularly, you'll be dead a
lot sooner." Modern countries don't value rest. Consequently,
most adults are sleep-deprived, and this sort of fatigue affects our
health, safety, and productivity at work, which in turn, affects a
company's bottom line. Think about it: sleepy workers make more
mistakes and cause more accidents.

Some companies are actually
beginning to encourage power naps during the workday, providing a place
where workers can rest briefly. Workers who take advantage of the
opportunity to nap for 20 minutes during the workday report that they
can then return to work with renewed enthusiasm and energy.

•
Instead of combating the afternoon lull with caffeine - a tactic that
creates the illusion of efficiency and alertness, but actually
"borrows" energy from your life force that you didn't have in the first
place - try taking a power nap!

• If you only have five minutes
to spare, just close your eyes. Even a brief rest can reduce stress and
help you relax, which can give you the increase in energy you need to
complete your tasks of the day.

• If you are uncomfortable with
napping during the day, another option is meditation. It gives your
body a rest and produces slower brain waves that are similar to sleep.

I
hope this article shows you the wisdom of napping! I invite you to
visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with
me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/7588/sleep-your-way-to-100-with-power-naps/