Dr. Matthew Walker of the University of California conducted a study showing that an hour long nap re-energizes the part of the brain that is responsible for creating memories—the hippocampus.

In addition, napping for an hour helps to reinvigorate short-term memory and gives boost to our remembering things after waking up. Alertness considerably increases, as does creativity. And what’s more, the study recommends that we take a nap before making decisions. Alongside all these benefits of napping, the study also showed the most important one—afternoon naps reduce the chances of heart disease by as much as 37%!