Taking a nap is more common than we think. It is true that there are certain cultures that do not practice it and do not have it as deeply ingrained as the Spanish culture, but it is a habit that is done in more areas. This rest can be for a few minutes or several hours, according to each person’s preferences.
To determine the recommended time to sleep so that the nap is relaxing and effective, NASA got to work in 1995. The U.S. agency investigated this because they have missions with high stress of up to 16 hours in which their pilots and astronauts take naps to perform at their best.
How many exact minutes should a nap last according to NASA
The NASA study specifies that their pilots slept for 26 minutes during their naps in the cabins and after this, they showed a 54% improvement in their alertness and a 34% improvement in their work performance.
So the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, after several tests on their pilots and astronauts, determined that the necessary nap time should be 26 minutes. The study breaks down that sleep is divided into five stages and that with the first two stages (10 and 20 minutes respectively) vitality is restored and can last until the evening.
This nap duration is also supported by the Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic, which recommended a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 30.
