One thing most students can relate to is being tired, whether from lack of sleep, overworking, or something else, but there are solutions. One solution is powernaping.
Power napping is an effective way to gain energy. It involves sleeping for a short period of time, allowing the body to feel rested without entering the later stages of sleep.
The Sleep Foundation explains that “For a power nap to be effective, it needs to be timed so that a person wakes up when they are in the early and lighter stages of sleep.”
The first two stages of sleep, which are light sleep, generally last 11 to 32 minutes, with it being necessary to pass the first stage of sleep, one to seven minutes, to actually feel rested.
“Research shows that 10 to 30-minute power naps are refreshing and can make a person feel more awake. In particular, napping for less than 20 minutes,” said the Sleep Foundation.
It is important to only nap for those 10 to 30 minutes if you want to feel refreshed, as you are more likely to be affected by sleep inertia if you nap for longer.
The Sleep Foundation has defined sleep inertia as “the feeling of grogginess, disorientation, drowsiness and cognitive impairment that immediately follows waking.”
Not only can power napping help prevent sleep inertia after naps, but it can also optimize your energy levels.
An article from Harvard Health Publishing explains that you should “Aim to nap in the early afternoon, ideally between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when your body naturally experiences a dip in energy.”
Despite all the perks of power napping, it should not be a replacement for normal sleep. Your body does things like store memories and strengthen your immune system when you are in deep and REM sleep. Deep and REM sleep are the 3rd and 4th stages of sleep, and are stages you do not reach when power napping.
Loyola University MD addressed how “Getting sufficient sleep and keeping a regular sleep-wake schedule is important for academic performance, overall health, safety, and for maintaining emotional wellness.”
