I don’t know about you but I take my sleep very seriously. If I’m up late the night before, I can guarantee that I’ll be taking a nap at some point in the day. Even if I went to sleep early (which rarely happens), I’m probably still taking a nap Whether it’s gloomy or sunny, I have shit that needs to get done or I have a free day…I’ll find a reason to sleep.
It’s not necessarily me being lazy though. It’s that college students don’t get enough rest in general. We’re either pulling all-nighters studying, partying until the next morning or just so used to not sleeping we can’t get some shut eye. Here are a few reasons you should put down that energy drink and try to get some slumber.
- You’ll feel alert and awake and will probably pay better attention in class. I know when I walk into class with my eyes barely open that I’m not going to remember a thing I was taught. Getting those extra few minutes of sleep the night before will improve how well you think and help you remember more.
- You’ll be healthier. There’s been multiple studies done that have shown that those who get less than 7 hours of sleep per night were 3 times more likely to catch a common cold. On a college campus the cold and flu hits like a plague so don’t let yourself get caught up in it just for that extra episode on Netflix.
You’ll be happier and more productive. Here’s Arianna Huffington’s TEDTalk that explains her story. https://www.ted.com/talks/arianna_huffington_how_to_succeed_get_more_sleep#t-14827
Here’s a little chart that shows you what benefits you’ll get from different naps.
Although these are just guidelines, you’re the only one who knows how much sleep you need and what time constraints you’re on, so please nap responsibly. Don’t skip important meetings or exams for a nap and don’t nap too close to your bed time since it might throw off your sleeping patterns.
Happy napping!