Sleep Study Links Naps To Happiness, Scientists Call Us On All To Embrace 'Nappiness'

“Nappiness” could become the new watchword for improving our sense of wellbeing, new research suggests.

Scientists have discovered a surprising link between taking short naps and happiness.

And they have coined a new word to describe the contented state that follows a brief daytime doze - “nappiness”.

Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, said: “Previous research has shown that naps of under 30 minutes make you more focused, productive and creative, and these new findings suggest the tantalising possibility that you can also become happier by just taking a short nap.

“Similarly, longer napping is associated with several health risks and, again, this is in line with our results.”

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More than 1,000 people took part in the study, conducted for the Edinburgh International Science Festival which begins on Saturday.

Happiness scores were obtained from answers to psychological questions in an online survey which also asked for details of napping habits.

The findings showed evidence of a significant association between short naps and happiness.

Among the participants, short nappers who dozed for less than 30 minutes at a time were more likely to be happy than either “long nappers” or “no nappers”.

Two thirds (66%) of short nappers reported feeling happy compared with 56% of long nappers and 60% of those who never napped.

Short nappers had an average happiness score of 3.67 on a five-point scale, no-nappers 3.52 and long-nappers 3.44.

The research also showed that 43% of participants aged 18 to 30 were taking long naps during the day, compared with just 30% of those over 50.

Only 11% said they were allowed to take naps at work.

Prof Wiseman said: “A large body of research shows that short naps boost performance. Many highly successful companies, such as Ben & Jerry’s and Google, have installed dedicated nap spaces, and employees need to wake up to the upside of napping at work.”

Festival director Amanda Tyndall said: “Based on Richard’s findings, we’ll take a look at whether we should introduce a napping policy at the Science Festival.”

Napping for just 20 to 30 minutes is said to improve creativity, focus and performance.

One study carried out by the American space agency Nasa on sleepy military pilots found that taking a 26-minute nap while the co-pilot was in control boosted alertness by 54%.

On the other hand, frequent hour-long naps are associated with an 82% increase in the risk of heart disease.

Five Top Tips For A Better Night's Sleep

Ditch The Late-Night Coffee(01 of05)

When it comes to messing with sleep schedules, one culprit is worse than all of the others: caffeine.

"No caffeine after 3pm," explains Joseph Gannon, sleep physiologist at The Sleep Disorders Clinic.

"Caffeine is hidden in many drinks - teas, coffees, fizzy drinks, even hot chocolate and chocolate. It's been proven in numerous studies to hinder sleep consolidation and fragment sleep."

And if you're dependent on gulping down the espressos to combat your sleep deprivation, don't be.

New research from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research presented at Sleep 2016 (the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and The Sleep Research Society) discovered that yes, caffeine can help you stay awake after a couple of nights of restricted sleep of five hours or less. However, if you have three bad nights in a row or more, it's essentially useless. But it will still make you irritable and jittery. (credit:haveseen via Getty Images)

Be Careful With Drinking(02 of05)

Sure, alcohol is wonderful at sending you into a dreamlike doze - especially after that seventh Sambuca shot - but it has a bad impact on your overall sleep. According to Gannon, numerous studies have shown that as sleep progresses and the alcohol wears off, it has a fragmentary effect.

"You’ll have a lighter sleep for longer and won’t get into the much-valued slow-wave sleep," he says. (credit:Sam Diephuis via Getty Images)

Avoid Screens Before Bed(03 of05)

Not only is technology in the bed a potential problem for your relationship - like when you spend your nights curating snaps on Instagram instead of chatting to your flesh-and-blood partner face-to-face - it's also an issue for your sleep. Especially the lights the devices emit.

"One of the key controlling factors in your sleep-wake cycle is your circadian rhythm and it’s affected by the blue lights in a light source and the screens you look at," says Gannon.

"They will reduce the levels of melatonin that are released in your body (melatonin is a hormone that helps to induce sleep)." He suggests shutting off, putting away and forgetting about all devices from at least an hour before bedtime.

"I recommend that the bedroom should be for sex and sleep," Gannon adds. "You shouldn’t be working in the bedroom or checking emails in the bedroom. It should be a relaxation zone."

Blackout blinds or curtains can help to make the bedroom an oasis of sleep and keep it dark - as it should be. (credit:Portra Images via Getty Images)

Embrace Routine(04 of05)

As tempting as it is to stay up late one night and sleep in later the next morning, it's not great for your sleeping schedule. In fact, sticking to a routine - with a regular bed time and wake-up time - can improve your sleep. This means getting up at 7am on weekends, too.

Super tired when you wake up? Don't let yourself oversleep. Get up at the normal time and put yourself to bed earlier to recover from your tiredness. (credit:John Lamb via Getty Images)

Make Your Bed Inviting(05 of05)

Blackout blinds, calming tunes, cosy, plumped up pillows: you want your bed to be as comfortable as possible. Remember that bedding is key (you want sheets and a duvet that help keep you cool in the summer and warm you up in the winter), as is investing in a breathable mattress.

Thinking of upgrading your bed? Now's the time to try out a TEMPUR® mattress, which contours to the exact shape of your body and provides support and cushioning, whether you prefer a firmer or softer feel when you sleep.

The best part? You can now try a mattress from sleep experts TEMPUR® for 100 nights (if purchased from 22nd August – 1st November 2016). This offer is available at participating TEMPUR stockists. (credit:gerenme via Getty Images)