In Defense of Naps

I was never much of a napper in high school. Naps, in my opinion, were for the lazy and unambitious, two qualities that were not going to get me into college or through seven hour school days. But today, ten months into my college experience, I am unabashedly pro-nap. Napping, I have learned, is not a cop-out, but an important tool in keeping our brains and bodies functioning properly. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of sleep, and how a nap can help you:
 
1. Stress Reduction and Heart Health

Curling up in bed or even putting your head down on your desk for a quick snooze can dramatically lower stress levels. Research shows that napping keeps levels of stress hormones in check, which can actually boost heart health. A study done in Greece found that people who took a thirty-minute siesta at least three times a week had a 37% lower risk of heart-related death. Countries where such siestas are common are known for having significantly lower levels of heart disease.
 

2. Improved Memory and Learning

Sleep loss is shown to have large impacts on a person’s ability to perform tasks involving memory, logical reasoning and learning. Obviously, a person who struggles in these areas will have trouble in college. Research shows that a nap in the middle of a study session can help fresh memories of study material move from temporary storage in the hippocampus to more permanent storage in the brain’s neocortex.  When you are awake, your memories are more fragile and more likely to be forgotten as you try to cram more information into your brain.

3. Increased Cognitive Functioning

We all know what it’s like to mindlessly read the same sentence over and over, or to stare blankly at a math problem we thought we knew how to do. Napping could be the answer to getting over these slumps in concentration and understanding. Researchers at NASA recently found that a 30-minute nap can increase cognitive functioning by roughly 40 percent. They carried out tests on 1,000 volunteers and found that those who worked without rest preformed markedly worse on intelligence tests. Their ability to memorize and work also decreased.

4. Motivation to Exercise

Being tired is a typical excuse in college for not hitting the gym. Before you decide that you’re too tired to workout today, take a twenty to thirty minute nap. Not only will a nap help motivate you to exercise, but it will also improve the quality of your workout.

In ancient Rome, everyone, including children, retreated for a two or three-hour nap after lunch. No doubt this is the reason the Roman Empire lasted over 1,000 years. In fact, I think I’ll do as the Romans do (did?) and head for my mattress right now.  
 
 
Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/13125-sleep-naps-boost-memory.html
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/03jun_naps
http://articles.dailypress.com/2011-08-06/features/dp-fea-tony-0807-20110806_1_nap-time-dark-ages-stone-age-man
 
Photo source:
http://www.thedognapper.com/blog/dog-napping