Everyone has something about themselves that is a surprise to their friends. It’s a good sign in a relationship that you are learning more about the other person, whether you like that truth or not. The aspect of me that continues to surprise my fellow college students is that I don’t take any naps.
It’s funny how things work out. We grow up as babies needing to nap during the day, to having a bunch of energy as kids, to once again napping during the day to get through the tough college schedule. Both of my roommates have been nappers, most of my friends feel like a good nap can be a highlight of the day and they all wonder how I am able to function without it during the day, especially because I don’t drink coffee at all.
I don’t have any secret tips. I like my uninterrupted eight hours of sleep and that can get me through the day and even late into the evening just fine. Maybe that’s just how I’m wired. Personally, though, even if I felt like I needed to take naps, I would try to do whatever I could to avoid them.
I just don’t see the benefits that people talk so highly of.
The main issue is with the amount of energy that a student needs for the day. If some days are intense or they were up late, I can see why someone would think catching up on some extra sleep would help recharge their batteries. The problem is when you wake up. I don’t know if it is true for everyone, but on the few occasions when I have taken naps, I wake up completely confused.
If I have to ask myself, “What year is it?” after waking up, I would not call it the most restful sleep, but that seems to happen every time I take a nap. It completely kills any momentum that you had in the day and now you have to get moving again, which only feels more painful to do at 3 p.m.
I feel like naps completely mess up the thing that they are supposed to help: your energy during the day. Sleep should always be a priority in anyone’s day-to-day health, and it seems like naps only make a normal sleep schedule and rhythm harder to obtain.
To all the nappers out there, I’ll leave you with the following advice. Try your best to get good, consistent sleep and if you start to feel tired during the day, do something that will shock the body or get the blood flowing. Drinking some cold water or exercising seem to work just fine.