Harvard University is doing research on napping and has identified a nap as one of the absolutely best strategies for learning new motor skills. (For retired folks, that might be something like hitting a golf ball straighter or spotting a new bird in the woods). A 30- to 60-minute nap encourages "improvement in motor-skill development by allowing the brain to process and store new information while the body is resting."

The recent issue of Nature Neuroscience says a lot about napping.

I’m not a regular reader of that publication, but I happened on an article that led me to a study that resulted in this column. I have always felt napping was underrated, and now I get to prove the point.

The results of the Harvard study are clear. Naps improve alertness, mood, productivity and the capability to learn new things.

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"People who do not nap do less well in learning new skills" (but they do catch up after they are retested following a good night’s sleep).

The recommendation is to take your nap between 2 and 3 p.m. and sleep for at least a half hour. The theory is that our neural connections reach a saturation point during the day, especially if we’re trying to solve problems or process new information, and napping alleviates that overload.

A recent American Association of Retired Persons survey suggested that 67 percent of people between ages 55 and 84 have sleeping problems. That percentage seems a bit high to me, but if it’s on the mark, an extremely large percentage of people cannot get to sleep at night or awaken easily, unable to return to their slumber.

If that’s you, try a cup of tea or a warm bath before bed, but also consider daytime "power napping." I’m not claiming it’s an alternative to a good night of restorative sleep, but I am suggesting it’s a way to feel amazingly rejuvenated and refreshed.

We took a fast turnaround trip to Seattle recently and the 40-minute nap I took between Portland and Olympia (I wasn’t driving) was wonderful. I woke with an unexpected clarity and a feeling of goodwill (especially toward my husband, who was driving).

It was like I’d been given an energy boost. The experience was so positive I even call it up in my mind and get a little tingle of pleasure thinking about how I good I felt after that little nap.

If you’re like me, finding a couch and an available half hour during an active workday is a bit of a problem. I’ve been pondering how to take advantage of the Harvard-based research for my own benefit. As I often do with problems of this kind, I guess I’ll just "sleep on it."

Sharon Johnson is an assistant professor in family and community development at OSU Extension and a member of the Senior Advisory Council. Reach her at s.johnson@orst.edu.