From Zzzz’s to A’s

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Whether it be in class, or in replacement of, naps are something students crave and regret skipping in their younger years. Students can now rejoice every March 14. Not only is it Pi Day (for all you math nerds), but it is National Nap Day.

Why is napping important? 

It increases alertness. A NASA study found a 40-minute nap can increase alertness by 100 percent.

It improves learning and working memory. Those naps may help more than those annoying all-nighters.

It prevents burnout and reverses information overload. Think there’s too much to do to settle down for a nap? Wrong. Taking a quick 30-minute nap will help with efficiency and work performance.

Saves money. Instead of spending all your meal plan money at Java City, take a nap. It’s a natural energy boost.

It’s difficult to find time for a nap some days, but studies have shown even a 6 minute nap can help improve memory. Have an extra half-hour to spare? Find a comfy chair or couch in The Union, throw on some headphones and catch some Z’s. Your GPA will thank you for the boost.

 

Did you Know?

Winston Churchill built a nap into his daily routine?

It’s true. He took a two-hour nap every single day. The notorious night owl slept from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. without fail. He even kept a bed in the Houses of Parliament and strongly held to the belief that naps were responsible for his success in the Battle of Britain.

Salvador Dali took naps that lasted mere seconds?

It’s a different kind of “cat nap”. He called it “slumber with a key”. The Spanish artist would sit in a chair with a heavy metal key pressed between his thumb and forefinger of his left hand. A plate would be placed upside-down on the floor underneath that hand. The instant Dali fell asleep, the key would fall from his fingers and wake him up. He swore by this method, believing it would rejuvenate and refresh the artist’s mind. While he didn’t invent the method, he and Albert Einstein were the most well-known practitioners.