Most college students, do not have a good sleep schedule, and so, they are most likely to be sleep-deprived. Walking a fine line by going to late-night parties and then waking up early to go to their classes, American college students are a new breed that is running on fumes and are basically making it alive through the day by consuming copious amounts of coffee. While some students might also have to balance a job and their school studies, sleep is a luxury that many students cannot afford. Keep on reading to know if napping is good for college students or not. Let’s see-> Are Naps Good For College Students?
Many sleep experts have agreed with a general consensus that if college students cannot fit in 8 hours of sleep every night, naps are their second-best bet. The bottom line is that taking naps will aid memory formation, memory consolidation, and language learning.
College Students Can Take Naps To Boost Their Physical Health
According to various research papers published, experts acknowledge the fact that modern-day college student has a lot of responsibilities that they need to manage, especially if they have a job while being full-time students. The reason for college students to squeeze in a couple of short naps or a single long nap session during their day is that it will improve their learning skills which will have a direct impact on the quality of their education and performance.
Most college kids lose sleep each week as a result of pulling all-nighters to do homework or staying out until the club closes, so naps might help you get back on track. Physically, naps can benefit you by enhancing your complexion and providing you with additional energy. Even professional athletes are beginning to grasp the advantages of napping. You can look and feel your best by taking a quick 30-minute nap. Say goodbye to your tired posture and annoying undereye circles, and welcome to your comforter and comfy pajamas!
College Students Can Improve Their Mental Health With Naps
When taken properly, naps can provide mental health advantages such as enhanced mood and reduced stress. Taking a nap midway through the workday has been related to more pleasant moods and lesser sensitivity to negative stimuli, according to research. Because the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is largely responsible for emotional fluctuation, gets tired throughout the day, taking a quick nap can help refresh us while also acting as a mood regulator, reducing a student’s level of crankiness.
Falling Asleep At Night Just Got Easier With The Help Of Naps
Many students inflict poor “sleep hygiene” and an unpredictable sleep schedule. So, regulated naps can assist get falling asleep easier since it tells the body what to do before winding down for the night. The human body is prone to fatigue in the mid-afternoon, and skipping lunch will not prevent this. However, sticking to your natural body clock will make you feel refreshed after a nap and help you sleep better at night – especially when compared to people who consume coffee instead.
How Long Should College Students Nap?
According to studies, a 20-minute nap is the most beneficial. This type of short nap helps your body and brain to relax without going into deeper phases of sleep. If you have the time and desire for a longer nap, 60 to 90 minutes is sufficient to achieve deep, slow-wave sleep while remaining in the milder stages of sleep, allowing you to wake up feeling aware. Medium-length naps of 45 minutes or less can be problematic since you will most likely wake up during slow-wave sleep, the deepest stage, leaving you with a foggy feeling known as sleep inertia.
Do Short Naps Benefit College Students?
Scientists discovered that persons who napped for 30 minutes or less had higher memory recall and overall cognition than non-nappers and nappers for longer periods. The term “power nap” may be familiar to you. What is the duration of a power nap? When you’re experiencing a natural fall in energy and wakefulness, a 15- to 20-minute power nap in the early afternoon can replenish and rejuvenate you. NASA conducted research on the benefits of power napping on astronauts and discovered that it provided a significant boost in performance and attentiveness.
How Do Introduce Naps Into Your Routine?
You may not have been someone that can see the pros of taking an afternoon siesta, especially if you feel that taking an afternoon nap can disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle at night. If you feel like naps disrupt your evening sleep or if you don’t feel rejuvenated after taking one. If you’re fatigued during the day, take a short nap of fewer than 20 minutes.
Tips For Taking Good Quality Naps
- Most sleep experts advise resting before 2 p.m., as this will have less of an impact on your evening sleep.
- Because caffeine takes time to influence your body, drinking a modest amount of caffeine before your nap may help you avoid the foggy sensation of sleep inertia when you wake up.
- When you don’t have time to nap, getting out in the sun can help you re-energize.
- Set an alarm for no more than 20 minutes of sleep.
- Consider napping in a cool, calm, dark location, or consider using an eye mask and earplugs.
Conclusion
While sleeping isn’t for every student, if you enjoy feeling refreshed and rejuvenated afterward, go ahead and do it—beneficial it’s for you. If you’ve tried napping but are still exhausted, you should evaluate your sleep habits and apply some sleep tips. Usually, high school students are juggling the pains of growing up and going through hormonal changes while also balancing multiple classes along with extracurriculars. American teens report that on many days, after coming home from school, they love to take a nap.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can sleeping reduce my craving for sugary foods?
Absolutely! By taking a nap when you’re tired instead of relying on a sugar rush, you can avoid gaining weight and have a good relationship with food.
2. How long will my concentration be improved if I take a nap before pulling an all-nighter?
If you take a nap before an all-nighter, you will be able to concentrate on your schoolwork for the next ten hours, with breaks in between.