There comes a time in the day where your caffeine runs low, your teacher does not speak English in your three-hour class, and you have basically given up for the day. It's that 2:30 timeframe, when you want to crawl through your dorm room door and drop like a weight in your bed. There's a test tomorrow? You'll figure it out after your nap. The gym? Don't make me laugh. It's freakin' bed time and no one is getting in my way.
Your bed becomes a place of sanity at college. I have a suitemate who thrives when it's her nap time. She'll sprawl out, door open, pants off, and escape into the universe of dreams. For some, it is a complete haven from any outside noise (figurative and literal) that life throws at you. There is something special about your dorm bed, though. I mean, I napped in high school every day after school because it was a tradition. Now when I nap, it's better than Christmas. If I have time to fit a nap in at college, then someone somewhere is being screwed over -- it is definitely a rarity.
There's something especially enticing about seeing your cozy bed in the fall. The colors outside the window are vibrant, and you know it's chilly enough that being outside isn't an option anymore -- so bed it is! I hung white lights around my room to seem like a present waiting to be unwrapped (my covers ... get it?). Why are naps so important, though?
Studies show that the average college student gets about six hours of sleep a night. That's sort of terrifying due to the fact that we generally need eight. There is no way, with constant activity, that six hours is sufficient to keep us running. So what do we do? There are several steps you can take that might cut down but enhance your naps, so you don't feel like it's a necessary part of your day AND give you ample amounts of energy to finish that paper and not sleep through dinner. Although I LOVE naps, and my suitemate cannot function without one, there are steps to take so that crashing for a nap doesn't ruin your plans for the rest of the day.
SleepFoundation.org noted that there are three different types of naps:
Here are some tips to follow for the average college student:
1. Drink coffee or caffeine before your nap.
Generally, it takes about a half-hour to an hour for caffeine to reach its full potential, so when you've finished your slumber fest, you'll have enough energy to continue your day.
2. Never nap too close to bedtime.
It's one thing if you are getting enough sleep and you just enjoy sleeping, but if you are unable to sleep because of your napping strategies, you'll need better time management. The best time to nap is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. because you are able to wake up, go to the gym, and do some homework before bed. This way, you have more time in the day to allow your body and mind to be tired when 11 p.m. rolls around.
3. Attempt other ways of relaxation.
Last semester, I felt strange about napping when I had so much to do, and that caused some sleep deprivation. Meditating or meditative yoga can help with relaxing the body and mind. You can even let out a heavy "Om" to vibrate your dorm walls.
4. Only nap for 20-30 minutes.
Napping for a short time won't allow your body to hit a full sleep cycle, so you won't feel as if you've already had a night's rest. Ask your roommate to wake you up at a certain time to ensure a short but fulfilling rest.
5. Adjust temperature and light fixtures in the room for an uninterrupted nap.
With a TV on in the background and your blinds wide open, it's difficult to be in a comfortable sleep because normally at night everything is silent and dark. If you are going to nap, go all out. Your body needs the uninterrupted aspect of it, so let it happen.
Keep dreaming, college students. You have many more beers to drink and papers to write!
