Do you nap? Some of the most productive thinkers in history have made napping a habit, from Thomas Edison to Winston Churchill to Salvador Dali. Additionally, in some cultures napping is considered not just a tradition, but a right. If you don’t nap, why not?

The benefits of a nap might surprise you. Napping increases your alertness, proving more effective than exercise or caffeine in boosting energy and focus. It improves your working memory because, during sleep, recent memories are solidified into long-term memories. When you nap, it increases your productivity and prevents burnout, while heightening your senses, promoting creativity, and improving your mood. Perhaps most importantly, though, taking a nap can improve your health. A Greek study showed that people who took 30-minute naps at least three times a week were 37 percent less likely to die from a heart-related condition. When those people were working men, their risk of death dropped a whopping 64 percent. Getting enough sleep boosts your immune system, improves your sexual function, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps with muscle repair and weight loss.

Are you sold on the idea? Let’s get your bedroom ready to be the perfect haven for those naps you can squeeze in at home.

• Get the light right. A calm, dark environment is best for sleeping, so if you know you’re going to be doing some napping, blackout curtains might be a good investment.
• Shut out the noise. A quiet room is best for napping. If you can’t shut the noise out, consider earplugs.
• Adjust the temperature. Experts say that sleeping with the temperature slightly lowered can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the ideal sleeping temperature is between 60 and 67 degrees, but of course, this varies between people.
• Put down the electronics. Don’t even let them into your bedroom. The blue light emitted from cell phones, televisions, and computer screens can make it hard to fall asleep, and hard to get good sleep once you’re asleep.
• Choose the right mattress. A mattress that’s comfortable, providing the right support to hold your body in a neutral position without creating pressure points, will improve the quality of your sleep.

Aside from a comfortable place to nap, are there any other things to consider when planning for a nap? It’s smart to keep your nap brief, though how brief is a matter of debate. A 20-30 minute nap is typically recommended for maximum short-term alertness with no disruption of nighttime sleep. On the other hand, a recent NASA study found that military pilots and astronauts who took a 40-minute nap improved both their performance and alertness significantly. How significantly? Their alertness was boosted 100 percent. There are some experts, too, who believe that 90 minutes is the perfect nap length because it allows you to hit all of the different sleep stages. To figure out the right length of nap for you, you might want to do some experimental napping. Just make sure you’re doing it in the middle of the day, because your body is probably not ready for more sleep in the morning, and napping too late in the day can disrupt your ability to fall asleep at bedtime.

Whether or not you’ve decided to start napping, if you’re ready to outfit the perfect bedroom in Northern California, you owe it to yourself to check out Mancini's Sleepworld. Since 1969, the Mancini family has owned and operated their store in Sunnyvale, CA, selling brand name mattresses at fair prices and treating every customer with respect. Beginning an expansion in 1989, we now have 33 locations across the greater bay area, allowing for same-day mattress delivery in most cases. To learn more about Mancini's Sleepworld, contact us through our website or call 800-647-5337.