Brian Savard, general studies major, takes a nap in the CCTEC building on the Neosho campus. (Photo illustration by James Walls)
Kerrigan Arnold
Reporter
Napping has been shown to restore alertness, enhance performance, reduce mistakes and accidents and provide psychological benefits.
“While in college, it is common for students to stay up later than they should to get an adequate amount of sleep,” said Millie Gilion, physical education department head. “Because of this, students should look into napping; it can help improve moods, alertness, and helps students relax.”
There are three different types of napping: planned napping, habitual napping and emergency napping, which is the most common for college students.
“Most students tend to stay up late when studying for a major exam, causing them to not get the right amount of sleep,” Gilion stated. “When this happens, students should consider taking an ‘emergency nap’ to help restore their alertness and enhance their performance.”
When it comes to the length of naps, the most productive is a short, 10-minute power nap. However, a 20-30 minute nap is also helpful as long as it is taken earlier in the day. Taking extremely long naps or naps later in the day will negatively impact sleeping schedules as well as cause sleep inertia, the feeling of grogginess people experience after awakening.
“I take naps, but they aren’t exactly planned out,” said Kaylee DeWilde, general studies major. “I just know that at some point in the day I’ll take one. I’ve taken naps before that were way too long; I’d wake up from them and it feels like waking up in the morning. So when it comes time for actual bed, it’s almost impossible to fall asleep” said DeWilde.
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