Are siestas good for you? The benefits of a daytime nap explained

A woman sleeping in a hammock beneath two palm trees and a summery blue sky.

While the residents of many Mediterranean countries head for an afternoon nap when the sun is at its hottest, it doesn’t have to be scorching to have a siesta – getting some shut-eye can have many benefits, whatever the weather.

Timed right, a nap could make you more productive for the rest of the day. Here’s what else it can do.