While small children typically take naps in the afternoon, our culture generally frowns upon mid-day sleep.  Many people experience a natural decrease in drowsiness in the afternoon, about 8 hours after waking. And research shows that you can make yourself more alert, reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning with a nap. Mid-day sleep, or a ‘power nap’ of 15-30 minutes, means more patience, less stress, better reaction time, increased learning, more efficiency and better health.