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Today is National Napping Day and although it is an unofficial holiday in the United States, it gives people a reason to snooze just a little bit longer and wake up slightly more refreshed. Day light savings and the rainy weather have left people dazed and lethargic, two things that a little bit of sleep can cure.  According to the Boston University Professor, William Anthony, PhD who created this holiday with his wife Camille, people should reap the benefits and try to squeeze in naps during the day.   

Several studies have found that napping between 20 to 40 minutes can raise alertness. A NASA study measured the effects of napping for pilots. The study compared pilots who had a 40-minute nap to those who did not and, found that the first group of pilots was more alert than the latter group. This discovery was reaffirmed by a Harvard study that states that shift workers were more alert after a 20-mintue nap.

Since sleeping has immense benefits for the brain especially when it comes to developing memory, other researchers also looked into the effects of naps on learning and memory. In a 2010 Australian study, researchers found that even though a longer nap, which is roughly an hour, can lead to grogginess, it makes up for this side effect by increasing the brain's functioning power after waking up. The brain's activity is consistently higher throughout the rest of the day.

Longer naps also lead to better creativity according to a study published in Health.com. These researchers found that during long naps, the right hemisphere of the brain receives a burst of activity that often helps people solve problems that they were having difficulty with before. The National Geographic also once reported that longer naps led to better performance on creative word problems because the brain entered REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which has been known to help cognitive processing. Along with boosting creativity, naps can also improve productivity and thus, workers work better after an afternoon nap.

Lastly, napping improves one's emotional side as well. Since naps can rejuvenate a person, it can also revive a person's mood. Someone who is tired and sleepy might be more grouchy and moody. A simple nap can prevent people from snapping at one another. Furthermore, if someone is feeling revived and fresh after a nap, that person is most likely experiencing less stress as well. Napping relaxes the body and the brain, and helps people deal with stress better after waking up calmer.

These are just six of many benefits that people can get from napping and sleeping. So at least today, you have an excuse and reasons to back up your excuse if you get caught sleeping on the job.