Napping can significantly increase learning, memory, awareness, and more

Google and Apple are just a few companies that allow employees to take naps. Studies have shown that power naps can improve knowledge and productivity. Plus, who wouldn’t love a boss who lets you get some sleep before getting back to work?

A study from the University of Colorado Boulder found that children who missed their afternoon nap showed less joy and interest, more anxiety, and had more difficulty solving problems than other children. The same can be seen for adults who benefit from naps.

Berkeley researchers found that a one-hour nap significantly increased learning and memory capacity. Naps provide a kind of reboot, clearing short-term memory and refreshing our brains with new, defragmented space.

Napping, as we’ve seen time and time again, is like rebooting your brain. Everyone likes to take a short nap every now and then, but napping can be as much an art as it is a science. The Wall Street Journal offers recommendations for planning the perfect nap, including how long to nap and when.

Sleep experts say in the article that taking a short nap of 10 to 20 minutes will give you the most benefit, but depending on the nap you’re looking for, other lengths may be ideal. For a quick boost in wakefulness/focus/alertness, experts say a short 10 to 20 minute nap is enough to get you back to work quickly/in a blink/with a snap.