2/27/07: National Napping Day Comes a Little Earlier This Year on Monday, March 12
“Napmaster General” offers help for the fight against sleep deprivation
(Boston) – More than half of Americans report being sleep deprived, according to a recent survey by The New York Times. And the day where Americans receive the least amount of sleep, the day after daylight saving time begins, is just around the corner. How will you prepare for that night of even less sleep? While some might be tempted to rush to the coffee shop for an extra jolt of java on the first day of daylight saving, there is a healthier and more effective solution to wake up: celebrate the eighth annual National Napping Day on Monday, March 12 by taking a nap.
William Anthony, professor of rehabilitation counseling at Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and his wife, Camille Anthony, founded National Napping Day together. Anthony, often dubbed the “Napmaster General,” explains why they chose this particular date, “On this day Americans are not only more sleep deprived but they are also more nap ready.” They also offer the following as additional advantages of napping:
- Napping makes you feel better by improving your mood
- Napping makes you more productive by enhancing your performance
- Napping is an inexpensive refreshment – it won’t cost you a cent
- Napping is a “no sweat” activity – it won’t wear out your joints
- A doctor’s orders are not necessary – napping can be self-prescribed
- Napping is not an invasive procedure – no one needs to do anything to you
- There is no weight gain associated with napping – you can’t eat while you’re asleep
- Napping has no dangerous side effects – as long as you aren’t driving!
National Napping Day, established in 1999, is always the day immediately after daylight saving time begins. The day is meant to help Americans adjust to the time change while raising awareness of the benefits of napping. The benefits of napping have received wide publicity lately due to the recent scientific study showing that regular napping is associated with a reduced level of risk of death from heart attacks or other heart related problems.
“The first Monday after daylight saving time begins is the perfect day to open up people’s eyes to the value of napping,” says Anthony. “Our goal is to overcome the prejudicial attitudes that many people have about napping, and to encourage everyone to see that napping as a no cost, no sweat way to improved mood and performance.”
On previous National Napping Days people have celebrated by having fundraising events such as napathons, or simply by scheduling a nap.
Bill and Camille Anthony have written two books, The Art of Napping and The Art of Napping at Work, explaining their research on the health benefits of naps.In addition, the Anthonys are presidents of the Napping Company. To learn more about National Napping Day or to find tips for participating, visit http://www.napping.com/.
Boston University (BU) Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an institution of higher education, research and clinical centers whose premier academic programs prepare dynamic health professionals and whose research and leadership in the health and rehabilitation sciences is actively shaping health care. BU Sargent College is the only private institution in the country offering five nationally ranked graduate programs in health and rehabilitation sciences.For more information and to learn about degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, communication disorders, health sciences, athletic training, nutrition, and rehabilitation counseling, visit https://www.bu.edu/sargent.