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Gene Zzzzzzz! Young people take afternoon naps much more often than seniors – 10% even admit to bickering on the floor
- 45% of 18 to 24 year olds like a siesta compared to 30% of the over 65s
- The most common reasons for napping were stress and a hangover
- Although the couch was the most popular spot, 10% admitted to sleeping on the floor
An afternoon nap can be one of the best things about retirement.
But younger people are much more likely to nap in the afternoon compared to their seniors, a new study suggests.
A poll of 2,000 people conducted by Silentnight found that 45 percent of 18-24 year olds take a siesta, compared to just 30 percent of those over 65.
And nearly a fifth of those under 24 nap more than once a day, compared to just 5 percent of seniors, it found.
The most common reasons for naps included not getting enough sleep the night before, followed by stress and a hangover.
A poll of 2,000 people conducted by Silentnight found that 45 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds take a siesta, compared to just 30 percent of those over 65
A fifth of employees admitted to napping on the job, while one in 10 said they regularly daydream on public transport.
While the couch was the most popular place to nap, about 10 percent confessed to sleeping on the floor.
The average nap time recorded was 33 minutes — peaking between 2 and 3 p.m. — and most were done on Sundays.
Aberdeen was ranked as Britain’s ‘Nap-ital’, followed closely by Cardiff, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Plymouth.
Meanwhile, people living in York, Cambridge and Leicester reportedly nap the least.
Silentnight sleep expert Hannah Shore said: ‘Power naps can be restorative and help reduce daytime fatigue, while if you haven’t had enough sleep at night, a nap can counteract the all-too-familiar afternoon slump.
“Having a short daytime sleep is also a good way to boost your cognitive functions, such as memory, and the ability to complete a complex task.”
“Despite the benefits of napping, an afternoon nap can have its drawbacks if you oversleep, which can leave you feeling groggy and disoriented.
“Napping too long can affect your sleep schedule later in the evening, affecting your night’s rest and possibly your energy levels the next day.”
She added that a short nap of just 20 to 30 minutes is best because it provides an energy boost without any negative side effects like lethargy later in the day.
The company conducted the survey on the occasion of today’s World Sleep Day (Friday, March 17).
An afternoon nap can be one of the best things about retirement (stock image)