They will only make it more difficult for you to fall asleep at night. If you need a nap and do not have a problem sleeping at night, restrict the length to 20 minutes. Also try to get up from a nap 30 minutes before you need to be alert. While an occasional nap can help offset fatigue, if you are running yourself ragged on a regular basis, you are only applying a bandage to a serious problem. Just as we take care of our teeth with regular brushings and visits to the dentist every six months, we need to develop a regular routine that is conducive to sleep.
Doctors suggest that the following habits are helpful.
Follow the same steps each night before going to bed that signal your body it is time to sleep. It will put you to sleep only to wake you up later that night. Studies show that regular exercisers sleep deeply and do not wake up at night as often. For example, it's better to read than to balance your checkbook. While this might put a kink in your social life, it could mean a big improvement if you have a difficult time sleeping.