A sleep expert answers all the questions we ask ourselves before falling into Morpheus’ lap…afternoon.
Siesta is an art that is practiced according to several rules if you want it to be beneficial and not disturb the night. Everyone needs a certain amount of sleep per day. Therefore, if you sleep for three hours on Saturday afternoon, when you slept well the night before, there is a risk of disturbing your rhythm and difficulty falling asleep, even night awakenings or insomnia. Psychiatrist and sleep specialist Sylvie Royant-Parola gives instructions for using this amount during the day.
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Micro sleep
“Sleep less than half an hour does not affect the sleep rhythm and therefore does not affect the quality of his night,” says the specialist. A 10 to 30 minute nap during the day is especially convenient when you feel the impact of an intense and stressful day at work.
It allows for a break, restores energy and reduces stress. “Thus, we restore efficiency and vigilance after a decline in dynamism. It is a break that I recommend to everyone,” says the doctor.
Long sleep
They allow you to release pressure, relax and deeply relax. “They can last from an hour to an hour and a half, or during a complete cycle,” explains Sylvie Royant-Parola. Unless you’re particularly sleep-deprived, it’s best to avoid oversleeping at the risk of waking up even more tired.
Therefore, it is more money that we allow ourselves on weekends or holidays than a daily ritual. “When you’re on vacation and the climate is hot, an early afternoon nap is ideal to keep your body from getting tired from the heat,” suggests the expert.
Don’t sleep in complete darkness
Sylvie Royant-Parola, psychiatrist and sleep specialist
Where and how?
Whatever the duration of the siesta, the golden rule is not to put yourself in the same conditions as when you go to bed in the evening. “You shouldn’t sleep in complete darkness or you risk tricking your body into thinking it’s dark, which will disrupt your sleep patterns,” says the psychiatrist. You can just as easily get him to lie down on a bed or sofa or sit comfortably in an office chair. “It’s all about putting yourself in a comfortable position, in which you feel relaxed, to avoid tension and to wake up in a good mood,” concludes the specialist.
At what time ?
Traditionally, it is done right after a meal, that is, at the beginning of digestion. For Sylvie Royant-Parola, this schedule is not a problem, on one condition. “If you have eaten a reasonable and balanced diet, you can sleep completely after eating. On the other hand, if you have consumed indigestible food (fats, sugar, alcohol), then it is better to avoid it, because heavy digestion interferes with restful sleep. Drink or sleep, you have to choose.
Source: Le Figaro
