God built specific triggers into our bodies to let us know when it’s time to rest. And wise people listen to these clues. History’s most notable power nappers include Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill. There’s a reason why we start to lose energy around 2pm. The levator muscles, which constantly contract to keep our eyelids open, give out and beg for a break. And a chemical called adenosine, which collects in the brain when we’re awake, piles up and makes us feel drowsy. That means our body yearns for sleep to allow the adenosine to disperse, resulting in instant relief. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that people who nap for at least thirty minutes daily, three times weekly, are one-third less likely to die from heart disease. And additional research suggests that taking a nap can improve creativity and memory. Cognitive neuroscientist William Fishbein says that often during a brief nap, our brains actually keep working to resolve problems and form new ideas. That helps explain why Mozart professed to have composed music in his dreams. Studies also show that a little extra sleep can help us to eat more healthily. Ghrelin, a hormone produced in our intestines, tells us we’re hungry and triggers cravings for sweets, salty foods, and starches – things that can be bad for us if we have too much. However, when we sleep more, our colon stores less ghrelin, and our craving for junk food reduces. In Scripture, Jesus not only took frequent rest breaks Himself; He encouraged His disciples to do the same. So, if you can, why not try a power nap.
