{"id":34045,"date":"2024-12-23T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=34045"},"modified":"2024-11-18T16:56:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T16:56:26","slug":"what-is-a-nap-pod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/what-is-a-nap-pod\/","title":{"rendered":"How Resting in a Nap Pod Could Improve Your Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How many times have you gone through a long and exhausting day wishing there was a little pod you could crawl into and take a much-needed afternoon nap<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all know that siestas<\/a> and afternoon naps have been common for centuries as people would take the opportunity to get some rest during the hottest part of a long day at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But put into practice in the modern day, how does that look at companies, airports, and even universities and medical offices? Enter nap pods, a futuristic but now surprisingly accessible way to make afternoon naps happen at work and while traveling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"nap
Nap pods can be useful in airports, offices, and hospitals, offering quick rest. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a nap pod? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nap pods\u2014sometimes advertised as nap capsules or sleeping pods\u2014are small structures or specially designed chairs that allow a person to take brief naps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can be useful in places such as airports, offices, and hospitals, where naps can be vital for health and performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nap pods offer quick rest, enhance productivity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being, says Brian Licuanan, PhD, board-certified clinical psychologist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and\u00a0published author<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Nap pods\u2014sometimes advertised as nap capsules or sleeping pods\u2014are small structures or specially designed chairs that allow a person to take brief naps.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese pods create an optimal napping environment by incorporating ergonomic support to ensure proper body alignment, special lighting to regulate the body\u2019s internal clock, and soothing sounds like white noise or nature sounds to promote relaxation,” explains Chelsey Borson, a sleep expert and pediatric sleep trainer and founder of Luna Leaps<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are even fancier models that offer timed wake-up systems to ensure naps are the ideal length. This is a great way of helping to avoid\u00a0grogginess upon waking<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do nap pods work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Much like mattresses<\/a> and any other part of our sleep setup, nap pods can vary by a pretty wide margin. Depending on the manufacturer, brand, design, and type of nap pod, there are tons of different special features that may be included, all in the hopes of allowing you to have a better, more restful nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Noise reduction<\/a>\u00a0is critical for sleep as noisy environments such as airports or offices may not allow a person to fall asleep,” notes Licuanan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, certain styles of nap pods may allow the person to adjust positioning to help with comfort (e.g., incline or decline). Also, some nap pods may have coverings that may help block out light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Darkness<\/a> is optimal for better sleep but may also have certain lights that people can adjust if that person prefers some ambient light,” says Licuanan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, some nap pods may offer headphones to block out external noise or provide soothing music or sounds<\/a> if the user prefers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of using a nap pod? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research shows<\/a> that brief naps (10-30 minutes) can have significant positive effects on a person\u2019s mental, cognitive, and physical well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Brief naps can improve cognitive functioning such as memory, decision-making, and processing speed,” says Licuanan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naps can also provide an energy boost, which can be helpful for athletes or those with physically demanding jobs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Naps can also help with mental\/emotional health by reducing\u00a0cortisol levels<\/a>\u00a0and stress overall, which can mitigate\u00a0anxiety<\/a>,\u00a0depression<\/a>, and any distressing emotions,” adds Licuanan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that’s not where the benefits of naps\u2014and using a nap pod\u2014end. There are even more reasons to give a nap pod a try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Regular use can increase productivity by recharging the brain and improving focus and efficiency,\u201d says Borson. \u201cNap pods reduce stress by providing a quiet escape for relaxation and resetting, and they enhance overall well-being by improving mood and cognitive function.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who should (and shouldn\u2019t) use a nap pod?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lots of people can benefit from sleep pods, including travelers suffering from jet lag<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0shift workers<\/a>\u00a0whose jobs are\u00a0mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, keep in mind that using a nap pod could be detrimental if you have insomnia<\/a> and struggle to fall asleep at night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because taking excessive naps\u2014especially later in the day\u2014may make it more difficult for you to fall asleep at a regular bedtime and could disrupt your circadian rhythm<\/a>, says Licuanan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, nap pods aren\u2019t meant for kids. “Nap pods are generally not designed for infants or young children due to some of its features such as positioning and size,” says Licuanan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, overall, nap pods can be a great addition to a sleep\u2014and daytime!\u2014routine for most adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can you find nap pods? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More and more, everywhere! Companies, universities, and airports are increasingly offering nap pods to support the well-being of their employees, students, and travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do nap pods exist? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, nap pods exist and are becoming increasingly prevalent at a variety of businesses and public institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there nap pods in the United States? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, these can be found everywhere from hospitals and airports to schools and places of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much do nap pods cost? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cost of nap pods varies widely depending on their features and design,  but  Borson says they typically range from $3,000 to over $10,000. However, that’s the cost to buy a nap pod of your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you happen to be somewhere that has one in place, you\u2019ll be able to rent a pod for sessions or potentially take advantage of it for free as an employee or student. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What type of nap is right for you? Here\u2019s your ideal nap style, according to your zodiac sign<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How many times have you gone through a long and exhausting day wishing there was a little pod you could crawl into and take a much-needed afternoon nap? We all know that siestas and afternoon naps have been common for centuries as people would take the opportunity to get some rest during the hottest part of a long […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":34046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[493],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-34045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34045"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34060,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34045\/revisions\/34060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34045"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=34045"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=34045"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=34045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}