Everyone Should Take a Nap

At least once in our lives, we’ve all felt tired and sleepy during the day, and all we wanted to do was to run back under the covers, but unfortunately, we had to continue on with our day. Maybe we didn’t sleep enough the previous night, we engaged in a lot of activity that caused us to be tired, or we’re just prone to being tired. How are we supposed to have enough energy to spend the entire day being active with nine hours of sleep each night–or less? The solution is simple: napping!

Napping is one of the best strategies to get more energy – it’s been shown to be much more efficient and effective than 67 cans of caffeinated drinks. But it’s not just energy that naps provide. They come with a host of other positive outcomes: better performance, improved memory, increased alertness, and a better attitude.

Our memory and performance have been proven to become better after we nap. When we are asleep, our brains are actively working to organize and strengthen our memories. Napping activates memory consolidation, which is the process of transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory. That is to say, napping will most definitely help with that last-minute History test studying. 

Before napping, most people are usually grumpy and short-tempered, especially when they are sleepy or tired. But after a good nap, they suddenly have a lot more energy and a better attitude. It turns out that when someone is tired, their brain short-circuits and they get cranky, but after they get to rest, they’ve recharged their energy and are ready to go on with their day. This could be a potential explanation for the benefits of napping!

The potential benefits of napping can only come about when it’s done in the right amounts. Sleep has stages, such as N1 (light sleeping), N2 (intermediate sleep), N3 (deep sleep), and REM (rapid eye movement). REM is the stage where dreams occur, and without enough of that time, we won’t have a better attitude but a cranky one. REM also comes last, so we need enough sleep to reach that time. So, how long should we nap? 

It takes 90 minutes for our bodies and brains to go through the entire sleep cycle. A nap that’s too short barely has any effect, while napping too long can have us groggily waking up from deep sleep. Around twenty to thirty minutes is the best option, letting us go through the earliest stages of REM and wake up feeling refreshed.

Of course, napping isn’t for everybody; it’s a personal choice. However, napping can help with memory, attitude, and alertness. So next time you feel tired, you should run back to your bed (or perhaps the library couches?) and take a nap.