You woke up at 5 AM and had a great start of the day. The day has progressed with productivity, work completion, and attendance at all the required meetings.

You’ve been a trooper throughout it all. Even made it to lunch without too much difficulty! Now, it’s late afternoon and you are running out of energy.

What are you going to do? What do you do? You take a break!

Although naps are extremely beneficial, people over six years of age seem to not be taking advantage of them. Some modern cultures include a nap in their day. However, others do not.

National Napping Day is a day to remind people around the world of the benefits of youth, and to take some time off of their busy schedules for much-needed rest.

The history of napping is a long-standing tradition. Napping was a common activity in certain cultures. Spain’s traditional siesta, which occurs right after the afternoon meal, is still a popular tradition. It has been practiced since the beginning of time.

Napping is a common activity for people who live in the Mediterranean. Italians call naps the pisolini (or riposo), which literally means “rest naps”.

Charlamagne, also known as Charles the Great (the 8th century medieval emperor of Europe), has been documented as taking 2-3 hour naps during the afternoon.

Is it laziness or is it? Not at all! It’s just another way of living.

Partially, this can be attributed to the need to take a nap in the middle afternoon during the hottest hour of the day. It was common to take a short break, especially before central air conditioning. You may also be able to take a short break due to the changing of the sleep cycle and wake cycle. There is an ideal time for a nap in the middle part of the afternoon.

Numerous health professionals and researchers have noted the many benefits of taking a short nap in the afternoon. Some evidence suggests that afternoon nappers are 37% less likely to die from coronary disease.

Do you think that naps could be literally saving your own life? It’s quite possible!

The best way to celebrate National Napping Day? Take a few minutes in the afternoon, or whenever afternoon is for rest. You can take a 20-minute power nap on the couch or a two hour, deep sleep under the covers to recharge your energy.

The best time to take a nap is after a meal, as the body has spent a lot of energy preparing food. A nap can make a person feel more awake and alert for the next day. Even though it may seem difficult for people who work a regular schedule, take a nap whenever you have the chance.

You can also catch a few zs during the day by celebrating National Napping Day.

It’s okay for some people to not be able to go to sleep in the afternoon. This is likely to mean that their bodies don’t get enough sleep at night. Even though there isn’t any sleep, it’s still a good idea to get some rest every day.

It can be beneficial to take a short break from your daily routine and practice mindfulness or meditation instead of taking a nap. You can do deep breathing exercises, do a body scan to see which stress points are responding, or listen to relaxing music for a few minutes to refresh your mind before you return to the hustle and bustle of life.