New research suggests a daytime sleep can delay neurodegeneration, but what about those who just can’t? Financial Times' Jonathan Derbyshire weighs in.
Indeed, a paper published in The Journal of Physiology in January this year found that, notably cycling, has “potent neuroprotective effects” similar to those being claimed for frequent napping. Welcome news for those of us who are much happier in the saddle than stretched out on a chaise longue.
And, perhaps most significant of all, the comparison on which the whole thing was based was not between those who elect to nap and those who don’t, but rather between people who are genetically predisposed to do so and those who aren’t. In other words, some of us, however hard we try to snatch some diurnal shut-eye, will always be defeated by our genes.
However, this did not stop the French philosopher Thierry Paquot once devoting a treatise to the “art of the siesta”, a practice he describes as a “high point in an art of living . . . that should be defended, popularised and practised with both joy and solemnity”. The implication of Paquot’s argument, which draws on The Right to be Lazy, a pamphlet published in the 1880s by Karl Marx’s son-in-law Paul Lafargue, is that those who can’t or won’t nap in the middle of the day are merely dupes of what he calls the “disciplinary timetable” of capitalism.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New study shows more than half of Singaporeans struggle with financial insecurity - Singapore NewsSome 42 per cent expressed a desire for greater wealth, while 19 per cent believed they were already too wealthy
Read more »
Commentary: Transparent content moderation key to responsible political discourse in MalaysiaAs Malaysia heads into six state elections, it is imperative for social media platforms to step up their game in moderating harmful content, says an Institute of Strategic and International Studies researcher.
Read more »
Commentary: Titanic sub - why is extreme ‘frontier travel’ booming despite the risks?Not only do risky tourism activities make people feel euphoric, they also convey status and bragging rights. But should there be limits on what tourists can do? These tourism and marine academics give their take.
Read more »
Commentary: Has reading for pleasure vanished from our lives forever?It is that much harder to carve out time for reading as working adults, but even bite-sized re-reads of our favourite books can bring comfort, says award-winning author Christina Sng.
Read more »
10 food spots at the new Sengkang Grand Mall to satisfy your cravingsSengkang Grand Mall is the inaugural integrated development in Singapore’s North-East region, featuring a 3-level retail segment, a hawker centre, childcare centre, community club, and 680 residential units. It opened its doors to the residents of Buangkok on 6 Mar 2023 and is home to over 90 brands. The mall has garnered a lot of […] The post 10 food spots at the new Sengkang Grand Mall to satisfy your cravings appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
Read more »
Jennifer Lawrence's new comedy No Hard Feelings was made with the Oscar winner in mindThe raunchy R-rated comedy was inspired by a real Craigslist ad posted by parents who were seeking a woman to “date” their son to bring him out of his shell the summer before he went to college.
Read more »