Do you remember being a kid and nap time was a part of your daily schedule at school? I cannot tell you how many times I would love to bring that back as an adult in college.

Naps are extremely underrated. It is not a secret that college students are sleep deprived. With balancing classes, homework, a job, and a social life, college can be overwhelming. After a long day of completing all of these demanding events, one of the best feelings in the world is being able to close your eyes in order to rest.

The National Sleep Foundation provides an in-depth analysis of the benefits of taking a nap. "As a nation, the United States appears to become more and more sleep deprived. A short nap of about 20-30 minutes can help improve an individual's overall mood, alertness, and performance." Just be careful not to sleep too long, otherwise, you might wake up with a headache or feel groggy and feel more tired than you were before.

If you have time between classes or work, it is ideal to try and take a short snooze, especially if you received a minimal amount of sleep the night before. Naps increase alertness and help increase your focus. The most ideal time to take a nap is in the early afternoon to create a healthy sleep pattern for the night.

The ideal sleeping conditions are a dark, cool room with minimal distractions. Unfortunately, in college, there is always going to be noise coming from your roommates or the people above you. Popping on some earbuds or a Bluetooth headband with calming music will help block out those irritating sounds. Since the lighting in the dorms or apartments can be brighter than the sun, blackout curtains or an eye mask are crucial.

If you are like me and become anxious when you sleep (your body will not allow you to fall asleep for hours on end) a weighted blanket would definitely be worth the investment. The weighted blankets range from 10-30 pounds of pure comfort. The weight of the blanket pushes your body down to reduce high amounts of stress and anxiousness.

Just like anything else, there is a balance of how much you should associate yourself in your dormant state versus when you are awake. If we as humans sleep too much, it can be unhealthy. If we sleep too little, it can be extremely unhealthy and cause us to make poor decisions. Sleep deprivation can also cause you to skip class and even perform poorly on exams and projects. Trust me, the last thing you will want is telling your group that you were "too tired to complete your assignment."

Naps are not just for younger children or elderly people. Even geniuses such as Albert Einstein needed their rest; with that being said, go catch some z's you studious college student. Your body will thank you for it later in the day.