It is a beneficial habit confirmed by science: granting you a moment of rest during the day makes you more efficient and healthy. But not all breaks are equal! A too long nap is at risk of disturbing your nights. Conversely, micro-sests would have countless benefits … Here is one of them, which takes off in France and Japan.
The nap “INTEMURI”: an express break, with many benefits
In a video broadcast on Instagram, the British neuroscientist TJ Power (author of the book The Dose Effect) says this famous Japanese nap – INEMURI – could “Recharge our brain after several hours spent in front of a screen “.
A nap “Flash”, which consists in offering you a moment of rest in calm … while being half awake (“inemuri” means “sleeping while being present”). And its benefits are numerous: the inemuri nap improves concentration, especially at work. It is thus very appreciated by the Japanese during the lunch break.
“Specially designed to dispel the mental fog and improve motivation, this nap only lasts 18 minutes”, confirms the neuroscientist.
Another advantage of this express break: the inemuri nap is practiced everywhere, in teleworking, in transport or at the office. You just have to find a calm and adequate space, to lie on your chair (you tilt your file from 30 to 40 degrees), to close your eyes and to timed your nap (maximum 18 minutes). Surprise: the feeling of “rest” and “appeasement” is immediate.
What does our expert think of this “flash” nap?
Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist and member of the True Medical committee, is rather convinced by the effects of this express nap.
“During this Japanese micro-nest, we seem to sleep halfway. But in reality, the brain recharges for good”, confirms the practitioner. “In reality, the INEMURI has nothing to do with our Western naps, often long, sometimes guilty, and which we emerge muddy. On the contrary, this Japanese micro-siete is brief, assumed, and deserves to be valued. This is not so much a matter of fatigue but of daily regulation. And it is not only a cultural question: some people really know how to take a nap!”.
From a neurological point of view, these few minutes – 18 overall – are enough to revive concentration, soothe stress and improve mood.
“We put an alarm clock, we close our eyes, we breathe a little … And off we go. It is neither a real sleep, nor an escape. Rather an in-between that allows the brain to blow … without winning. A flash, but effective break”, recognizes the specialist.
So no, it’s not about falling asleep in the middle of a meeting. “But these micro -parents – a few minutes leaning against a wall or at the bottom of a bus – are important. After all, it is better to stop for a moment … than end up falling apart. They could probably avoid, in themselves, some burnout!”, concludes Amélie Boukhobza.