For some, naps are a guilty pleasure, but for others, they are a necessary means to get through the day. For many college students, it is the latter, but here is a list why they are very important for anyone:

• 1. They allow you an escape without having to even leave the room.
• 2. You can recharge your battery in as little as 20 minutes.
• 3. If you want to be more productive, it’s important to have energy
  • “The secret to becoming more productive is not managing your time but your energy.” Michael Hyatt
• 4. Famous people take naps (not just actors/actresses, but geniuses too!)
  • Leonard da Vinci napped several times a day (but he didn’t sleep much at night…)
  • Albert Einstein napped daily and still managed to get ten hours of sleep each night
  • Eleanor Roosevelt would nap before speaking engagements to be more energetic
  • President John F. Kennedy, each day, ate lunch in bed and then would take a nap.
• 5. Napping also has many benefits, like it restores alertness
  • A quick nap can help you regain focus and be less sleepy during the afternoon drag
• 6. There is a National Sleep Foundation and they even recommend naps
  • They said that a 20 to 30 -inute nap can “improve alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.”
• 7. Naps can prevent your burning out
  • Taking a nap is like rebooting your system. 30 minutes can keep you from burning out
• 8. Naps help your senses (weird huh?)
  • Dr. Sara C. Mednick said that napping can help with your sight, hearing, and taste.
• 9. Napping helps creativity
  • Not going to lie, I came up with this idea right before I fell asleep from a nap.
  • It relaxes your mind and helps form new associations
• 10. Napping makes you more productive
  • Think about how you feel at 3:00 pm on a day where you haven’t napped? Do you feel very productive?
  • A 2002 Harvard University study showed that taking a 30-minute nap actually boosted workers’ performance, bringing their productivity to the same levels they were at the beginning of the day.
• 11. Napping can help you relax, improve your mood, and increase your awareness.
• 12. But if you want a good nap and you want it to work over time, here are some tips:
  • Be consistent – stabilize your circadian rhythms by scheduling them at the same time
  • Keep it short – 20 to 30-minutes tops works best, otherwise you may feel groggy or disoriented; set phone alarms to prevent oversleeping
  • Turn off the lights – darkness helps you shutdown.
  • Use a blanket – If will help you be more comfortable, but also help benefits when your body temp falls.
  • Be discreet – this is more for if you have to nap while working, so maybe nap in your car during your lunch break (in your car or a closet or even an unused conference room.)

Overall, naps can help you get through college, but they can also help you get through life. Even if you don’t think naps are for you, it might be worth a shot if you are struggling to get through the day.

Source: https://michaelhyatt.com/why-you-should-take-a-nap...