Today is National Napping Day in the US, and on this occasion, worldwide scientists argued that a quick snooze in the day time has many benefits that most of us aren’t aware of.

Napping day assists people in the US to adjust after daylight savings take effect, as per the Days of the Year. In most of the world, nap is an integral part of the cultural practice, and isn’t just an event due to ‘spring forward’.

For instance, a study from the Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends has shown that in the US, around 34% adult Americans take a nap. After surveying 1,488 adults, the study demonstrated that 38% women take a snooze off in the day time as compared to their male counterparts at mere 31%. Furthermore, the study said that the race has been apparently affecting the sleeping pattern trend in the US.

On the occasion of Napping Day in the country, here are some research-backed advantages of nap. A study carried out by the National Sleep Foundation has revealed that a minimal nap of 60 minutes refreshes both the mind and body. The study added that it may enhance one’s alertness for the following 10 hours, which plays a very important part in the lives pilots while on job.

Moreover, the report added that the US space agency, NASA, has an in-flight nap section in which pilots can snooze off, during which, the plane is on autopilot. The study claimed that napping can boost the pilot’s performance by as much as 34%.

There is another survey, wherein a group of Greek researchers from the Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens reviewed 386 middle-aged Greeks, consisting of 200 males and 186 females. They discovered that the ones who take a regular nap in the day had comparatively lower blood pressure in comparison to their peers, who stayed up all day long.