National Napping Day: Choose to take a little snooze

Although Daylight Saving Time (DST) means spring is right around the corner, it also means we lose an hour of sleep! If you've lost a little spring in your step after "springing forward" and feel a bit sluggish after moving all those clocks ahead an hour, no worries. There is a special day just for you!

It's (National) Napping Day, an annual "holiday" that falls on the Monday after DST begins. Professor William Anthony and his wife Camille created the event back in 1999 to help folks adjust to the time change and to shine the spotlight on the health benefits of napping.

“We chose this particular Monday because Americans are more ‘nap-ready’ than usual after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time,” William Anthony said.

And speaking of naps, the couple has written several books on napping, "The Art of Napping" and "The Art of Napping At Work."

The Benefits of Naps

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a 20 to 30 minute nap has quite a few benefits. Besides reducing fatigue, a nap can make you feel better, improve your mood, increase alertness and improve performance. While napping on the job or on the road is definitely not recommended, it's important to note that napping late in the day or taking a long nap may negatively affect your nighttime sleep.

In honor of National Napping Day, why not indulge yourself and enjoy a little afternoon snooze? Sweet dreams. Zzzzzzzzzz.