Neurologist Isabelle Arnulf Reveals the Best Time of Day to Solve Your Problems

The power of sleep is often underestimated and can resolve many issues. Here’s one in particular.

What if we told you that sleep could solve numerous problems? Studies have proven the link between reduced stress and anxiety, thanks to quality sleep, as well as better mental health, but these are not the only benefits of a good sleep rhythm. According to Isabelle Arnulf, neurologist and author of the book A Window into Dreams, Neuropathology and Sleep Disorders, interviewed by France Culture, it is possible to find solutions to your problems through a specific moment in sleep: "There is a window just before falling asleep that is extremely conducive to creativity."

The Power of the Micro-Nap

According to a study conducted by Thomas Alva Edison, the phase of falling asleep (which represents a moment when sleep is extremely light between the moment you close your eyes and the moment you plunge into deep sleep) is the perfect time to find solutions to your problems or deadlocks. The reason? This phase stimulates creativity: “The researcher used the technique of a micro-nap of one minute (...) he would sit in his chair, close his eyes with a metal ball in each hand, and every time the ball fell, he would wake up and immediately note his ideas. This corresponded to the phase of falling asleep,” explains the neurologist.

She adds: “We think that this intermediate state between wakefulness and sleep, if people fell completely asleep, they would lose the solution. It was really necessary to catch this state that is between the concentration of wakefulness and the imagination of sleep and at the same time wake up quickly to retain the idea.”

The Benefits of the Micro-Nap

Beyond the advantages presented above of a micro-nap of a few minutes, sleeping no more than 20 minutes in the middle of the day is ideal for gaining concentration and productivity, as well as energy: "A quick nap of 20 minutes is perfect for recharging without the dreaded sleep inertia,” reminded Nick Bach, who holds a PhD in psychology at the media StudyFinds.

Moreover, according to a study conducted on the American population by Talker Research and Avocado Green Mattress, the perfect nap time would be 1:42 PM. To boost your creativity and enhance your well-being, you’ve understood it, the nap is a significant ally. So, are you ready to sink into the arms of Morpheus?