It depends. The science suggests that a nap can be beneficial—after all, napping is standard operating procedure in many cultures.
Naps lasting 20 minutes and up to 90 minutes may work for some folks. However, the big caveat is that if you are not sleeping well during the night, a nap can make matters worse.
We have counseled elderly patients who inadvertently switch their sleep schedule by napping during the day and then struggling to fall asleep at night.
In the end, it depends on you. If you take a nap, sleep well at night, and feel rested the next day then there is no reason to change.
