Napping

30-50% of college students enjoy napping. College students will nap at any time, and in any pace - sometimes in bed, on the couch, on the lawn in front of the library, or on a bench in a building.

Healthy napping can have benefits like increased relaxation, reduced fatigue, increased alertness, and improved mood. It can also improve our overall performance by improving our reaction time, memory, and decreasing the chance of accidents or mistakes.

However, there can also be some drawbacks to napping. Sometimes napping can make you more groggy or tired than before. Napping can also decrease your quality of sleep at night or intensify already existing sleeping problems. 

Here are some "do's" and "don'ts" to healthy napping.

DO keep naps shorts (20-30 minutes). This will decrease the chance you will be sleepier afterwards.

DO set an alarm to wake you up.

DON'T take a nap later than 4 in the afternoon. If you sleep later in the afternoon, it is more likely to affect your nighttime sleep. The best time to nap would be between two and three in the afternoon.

DO nap in a comfortable environment.

Sources:

"Napping: Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Adults." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 May 2013.  

Soong, Jennifer. "Power Naps: Napping Benefits, Length, and Tips." WebMD. WebMD, 20 May 2013.