One of my favorite things about Italy (besides the great food, art and history) was that most businesses shut down every day for an afternoon Siesta or nap. Shops, restaurants and museums would close everyday between 3 and 5 pm. Siestas are a Latin tradition that we all should adopt.
Research has shown many health benefits to an afternoon nap. Psychological benefits, productivity and alertness and decreased risk of heart disease, to name a few. In fact in one study showed that regular napping decreased a person's risk for heart disease by 37%!!! WOW!
I LOVE naps and crave them. But lets face it - its rare when I get to squeeze one in. Most people do not have 20 - 30 minutes during the day to sleep. With that being said, I bet you have five minutes?! Take five minutes everyday to unwind and disconnect. The best time to do this is after lunch when our biological clocks actually signal us to slow down. Go outside, in your office or even your car and turn off everything - yes even your cell phone. Take five minutes to try to quiet your mind. Any thoughts that come to your mind just push them out. Focus on your breathing and relaxing of your body.
One easy way you can try to achieve balance today - instead of reaching for that coffee try a nap!
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