COLUMN: Purdue Extension: National Napping Day is March 10

Happy spring everyone from the Health and Human Sciences corner for Purdue Extension-Owen County. My name is Jamie Jo Lowder, and I am happy to be a resource for the community and hold programming for all things food, family, finance and health related.

As we spring forward with daylight saving time, many of us feel the effects of lost sleep. That’s why the second Monday of March—March 10, 2025—is National Napping Day, a perfect reminder to recharge and prioritize rest.

According to Purdue Extension, sleep is essential for overall health, improving memory, mood and even immune function. Research suggests that short naps—around 20 to 30 minutes—can boost alertness and productivity without leaving you feeling groggy.

Here is a fun fact: Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Leonardo da Vinci indulged in a good power nap. These are some magnificent minds in history that knew the importance of a good quality nap. Our furry little friends do not have any qualms about taking naps throughout the day. Humans are the only mammals who delay sleep.

Here at Purdue Extension, we emphasize the importance of consistent sleep schedules, limiting screen time before bed and creating a relaxing bedtime routine to ensure quality rest. While naps can be beneficial, they shouldn't replace a full night’s sleep, which adults need for physical recovery and mental well-being.

So, this National Napping Day, take a well-earned break, embrace your inner cat, and enjoy a quick snooze—you just might wake up feeling like a genius! For more sleep health tips, I have classes available on the benefits of sleep. Contact me if you are interested in one of these programs.

Here are some programs that are happening in March:

• March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 – Steps to a Healthy You, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. Steps to a Healthy You is a five-session series focused on eating a healthy Mediterranean-style eating pattern (a.k.a. eating the Med Way). Sessions focus on the 7 Simple Steps to Eating the Med Way. Each session explores one to two simple steps, a mindfulness skill and features Med Way recipes. Food demonstration and/or cooking instruction is included in each session. Please pre-register by calling 812-829-5020 or emailing lowder0@purdue.edu.
• March 18 – Sleep on It: Why Sleep Matters, 10 to 11 a.m. at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. We will talk about why sleep is so important and help give you tips to promote good sleep habits. We will also cover the benefits of sleep, risks of poor sleep, stages of sleep, when to contact a healthcare provider, barriers to quality sleep and ways to improve sleep quality. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for this program, please email lowder0@purdue.edu or call 812-829-5020.
• March 19 – Crafting to Reduce Stress, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. Please register by contacting the library, 812-829-3392. We will be going over techniques to help reduce stress as well as making a craft.

Sneak Peak - During the month of May we will offer a county-wide Get WalkIN challenge. Stay tuned for more information on this program in next month’s edition of the newspaper.

More programs will be added throughout the month, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for updates!

If you're interested in a program on food, finance, family or health, let me know—I’d love to bring one to your group or organization. To feature a program at your event/meeting, email the details to lowder0@purdue.edu. I look forward to connecting with you!