INJURY-FREE RUNNING THE POWER OF POWER NAPPING A 15-MINUTE NAP CAN BOOST YOUR MOOD, HAPPINESS, AND HEALTH
LOWER STRESS People get cranky when they’re tired. Less sleep causes aggression, emotional outbursts, and mood changes. Adequate sleep makes you feel a lot better — emotionally and physically. While power naps aren’t the solution to every problem, they can be a lifesaver in high-stress situations. Consider taking a cat nap if you’re under a tight deadline. Doing so can boost productivity and lower stress levels. LIVE LONGER Power naps help more than just the brain. They also benefit the cardiovascular system, as regular naps can lower blood pressure, which means you’re at a lower risk of a stroke or heart attack. People who don’t get enough sleep have more frequent headaches, immunological issues, and an increased appetite. Gaining weight then leads to many other health problems, so those who want to lose weight should also watch their sleep schedule.
To some, a nap is a vital part of a daily routine. To others, naps are accidents and should be avoided. Power naps — also known as “cat naps” — are short, usually around 15–20 minutes, and many believe such a tiny amount of sleep can’t be helpful. You can’t even get to the REM sleep stage. However, peer-reviewed studies show power naps can have many benefits for their minimal time investment. Here are three ways you benefit from adding a 15-minute sleep session to your daily routine. THINK CLEARER Napping is excellent for sharpening your cognitive powers. High sleep quality leads to better memory, fast response times, and mental clarity, so a power nap is perfect for fitting a little more into your schedule. But while a cat nap can sharpen your focus, a longer nap might hinder you. Long naps go through the entire sleep cycle and result in grogginess, impairing brain function for a short time.
In short, fit a power nap into your schedule regularly. Cultures around the world take midday naps for a reason. If power naps don’t help you feel better, consider visiting a doctor. Constant exhaustion — especially insomnia — can indicate other health problems lurking.
Co-Parenting During Spring Break
How to Keep Vacation Fun for Everyone
Spring break is on the horizon, and you may wonder how best to co-parent your child during this time. You need to consider many things before planning a big vacation with the kids, particularly as this is a shorter break that doesn’t include any holidays. Whether you’re new to co-parenting or have been doing this for a while, we have three tips that may help! BE PROACTIVE The best time to discuss concrete custody scheduling is during your initial custody negotiations in court, like which school vacations your child will spend with you. This often eliminates any doubt or unnecessary conflict. There are many options, such as splitting summer vacation, alternating spring break every year, or simply equalizing the amount of time spent with the other parent, no matter the vacation time. BE FLEXIBLE Considering everyone’s schedules is vital. Your work may not have a built-in spring break, while the co-parent does have the time off. In many cases, neither parent has the time off. This can lead to issues. Often, this break, in particular, can cause conflict as child care falls through.
Be sure to plan for it, and be sure to include your child’s plans; older children could have band camp, spring training, or jobs. Younger children may want to spend time with their friends rather than travel. It doesn’t hurt to sit down with the kids before planning big vacations to see what they think and write it down! HAVE FUN! These school vacations are precious moments for kids because they get a break from the pressure of schoolwork. Though figuring out scheduling may be somewhat stressful for you, they are looking forward to this break. You should try to have fun alongside them. Even if you may have work, doing small activities will make all the difference. Having a movie night with a film of their choice, preparing a special breakfast, or camping in the backyard can create a lifetime of memories. Before you know it, kids grow up, and all their school vacations will be behind them. We’re here to help you be proactive in your custody arrangements so you can focus on having fun, being flexible, and ultimately treasuring your child’s childhood.
2
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator