Why Taking a Nap Can Be a Productive Use of Your Time

By Jon Herring

The human biological clock has two cycles per day, with two dips. And for most people, one of those dips occurs shortly after lunch. (The other occurs before bedtime.)

If you have the opportunity to take a nap for 20 or 30 minutes during your afternoon dip, do it. Not only will you likely wake up with more energy and mental clarity, you could also improve your health.

The Harvard School of Public Health recently concluded the largest known study to examine the link between napping and health. The researchers, who followed 23,000 adults in Greece for a period of six years, found that those who took a half-hour midday nap break at least three times a week were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease as compared to those who never napped.

While one study is not conclusive, the results of this research do make sense. We know that the three basic keys to good health are diet, exercise, and rest. Sleep helps to relieve stress and gives the body a chance to reset the heart rate and blood pressure. So don't feel guilty about taking a little nap in the afternoon. You will probably be more productive when you arise, and you could even live longer for it.
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Research Tip: How to Search for "Scholarly" Data

By Will Newman

The credibility of your writing - whether it's a sales letter or a proposal for a new product - often depends on how well you're able to prove what you say. Frequently, this means relying on scholarly publications, like journals, for specific data. Google has a free search service called "Google Scholar" that lets you do this easily.

Go to the Google Simple Search link (scholar.google.com) and click "Advanced Search." Advanced Search lets you weed out returns you won't need by specifying results:

. with all of the words

. with the exact phrase

. with at least one of the words

. without certain words

. where the words occur (anywhere or in the title of the article)

You can also (but don't have to) specify results by:

. author

. publication (specific journals)

. publication date

Or you can specify articles in these subject areas:

. Biology, Life Sciences, and Environmental Science

. Business, Administration, Finance, and Economics

. Chemistry and Materials Science

. Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics

. Medicine, Pharmacology, and Veterinary Science

. Physics, Astronomy, and Planetary Science

. Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities

Note: While searching is free, some results require payment if you want to see the full article. Still, Google Scholar is a great way to at least scan the abstracts and start your research.
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Treasures From the ETR Archives: Michael Masterson on Perfecting Skills

[Ed. Note: To read each full article, click the link embedded in the text.]

"Here's a great way to become perfect at just about anything: When you practice, don't ever do it wrong. If you practice perfectly, you will become perfect.

"The more you practice the right moves, the deeper the memory path. The trick is to make the correct paths as deep as possible and the incorrect paths shallow or nonexistent."
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"I have no great natural talent for submission wrestling, but I am improving every day because I am willing to do what it takes. Making myself a better wrestler is no tougher than improving my Spanish language skills. I simply have to set myself specific goals, put in the time to practice, and keep at it until I succeed."
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Word to the Wise: Salutary

Something that's "salutary" (SAL-yuh-ter-ee) - from the Latin for "healthful" - is beneficial, tending to promote health and well-being.

Example (as quoted by Patricia T. O'Conner in a New York Times review of When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It, by Ben Yagoda): "[Yagoda] admires the 'salutary emphatic redundancy,' as in '"Raid Kills Bugs Dead" (written by the Beat poet Lew Welch in a stint as an adman).'"

Michael Masterson
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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #1998, 03-24-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.