National Napping Day

National Napping Day is observed annually the day following the return of Daylight Saving Time

Cat Nap: photo by Cliff Hutson

Americans set their clocks forward at 2 a.m. on March 14, we entered Daylight Saving Time (DST). (Notice that correctly there is no "s" at the the end of "Saving". ) Thinking about that lost hour causes many of us to worry about being sleep-deprived, which often comes with changing sleep schedules. Insufficient sleep can cause serious, well-documented problems, from impaired mood and memory to overeating and heart attacks. While one might think that Sunday would be enough to make the adjustment, you’ll probably feel sleepy on March 15, and may want to catch up on that missing hour. But, try to avoid naps longer than 45 minutes. Also, napping after 3:00 PM, will make it harder to go to sleep at night,

World Sleep Day

By the way, World Sleep Day is March 19, 2021

The World Sleep Society recommends the following 10 steps to achieve healthy sleep

• Fix a bedtime and an awakening time.
• If you are in the habit of taking a nap, do not exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep.
• Avoid excessive alcohol ingestion 4 hours before bedtime and do not smoke.
• Avoid caffeine 6 hours before bedtime. This includes coffee, tea and many sodas, as well as chocolate.
• Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods 4 hours before bedtime. A light snack before bed is acceptable.
• Exercise regularly, but not right before bed.
• Use comfortable bedding.
• Find a comfortable temperature setting for sleeping and keep the room well ventilated.
• Block out all distracting noise and eliminate as much light as possible.
• Reserve the bed for sleep and sex. Don’t use the bed as an office, workroom or recreation room.