Today is national napping day (and I need one)

National Napping Day is Monday - and always the day immediately after daylight savings time begins. The day is meant to help Americans adjust to the time change while raising awareness of the benefits of napping.

Approximately 70 million people in the United States are affected by a sleep problem. About 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder, and an additional 20-30 million are affected by intermittent sleep-related problems, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research.

William Anthony, professor of rehabilitation counseling at Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and his wife, Camille Anthony, President of the Napping Company; founded National Napping Day together in 1999, now in it’s ninth year. Their goal was to overcome the prejudicial attitudes that many people have about napping, and to encourage everyone to see that napping as a no cost, no sweat way to improved mood and performance.

Here are some interesting facts from Sylvan Dell, featured in the book “Animals are Sleeping.”

• Giraffes sleep about five minutes at a time, only six times a day — and they do it while standing up.

• Harbor seals can sleep while bobbing like buoys in icy ocean water.

• Creatures like lions, sloths and koalas can sleep up to 20 hours a day (I'm jealous!).

• The common swift bird can sleep while flying, flapping its wings every four seconds.

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