With the typical “second semester slump” most students experience at least once in their academic journey starting to affect me, I’ve noticed I’ve been taking many more naps. This might partially be because I have to wake up for Collin classes at 5:45 every morning or simply because of the amount of schoolwork I’ve been receiving lately.
Regardless, it made me wonder: are naps just a guilty indulgence, or could they be crucial to better focus and academic performance? As it turns out, naps are more than just a way of putting off your assignments for a while—they’re scientifically proven to recharge both your body and mind.
One thing is sure: most students rarely get the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night, with early mornings, late-night homework, or a schedule filled with extracurricular activities being the main culprits. However, a short nap can often fill the gap and improve focus and memory.
Repeated studies have shown that taking short naps—around 20-30 minutes or completing the sleep onset stage followed by 7-10 minutes—can significantly boost focus and alertness. After a short nap, the brain feels recharged and can remain productive. Think about it this way: could you take on a challenging math problem or write a persuasive essay as effectively with little to no energy as you could after a restful nap? Probably not, because those moments of rest are essential for improving concentration and mental clarity.
On top of this, short naps also help improve memory. Researchers found that when young adults were tested 30 minutes after learning the material, they continuously outperformed those who did not nap after revising. But why does this happen? During sleep, your brain is actively working to move memories and information from the hippocampus (short-term memory) to the neocortex (long-term memory). Since this process strengthens the connections needed to recall information, a simple nap becomes a tool for retaining valuable information necessary for studying.
While this shows how powerful naps are, there’s a science behind them. Here are some tips I learned for your next nap session while researching:
- Set an alarm: if you’re anything like me, this has happened too many times: waking up in a cold sweat, wondering how long you were asleep, then checking your phone and realizing it’s almost bedtime, and you still haven’t started your work. To avoid this, set an alarm before your nap and stick to it! While waking up from a peaceful rest might be challenging, remember that oversleeping can leave you groggy and derail your productivity.
- Keep your naps short: as mentioned earlier, a 20-30-minute nap is more than enough to feel refreshed and energized since napping for longer may lead to grogginess and unproductiveness.
- Create a restful environment: find a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t be distracted or disturbed. Try an eye mask or white noise if you have trouble falling asleep.
The next time you find yourself feeling exhausted and unproductive, consider dropping whatever you’re doing and spending time taking a beneficial nap. Happy studying!
