Whether it’s repeatedly hitting the “snooze” button on your alarm clock in the morning, dragging your feet after an all-night study session or nodding off in class or even behind the wheel, as college students, we have all felt the effects of not getting enough sleep.
According to the University of Michigan Health Service Web site, college students average only 6 to 6.9 hours of sleep per night, though we need about eight. We’re progressively getting sleepier, too, according to the Web site. College students get to bed 1 to 2 hours later and sleep 1 to 1.6 fewer hours than they did a generation ago.
So how do we combat sleep deprivation, an ailment that affects 50 percent of Americans and carries with it a laundry list of health risks, not to mention lessens our productivity and makes us feel lousy? The answer is easier and more enjoyable than you might think.
Take a nap!
Nature actually intends for us to nap in the middle of the day, according to Talk About Sleep, an organization that raises awareness about sleep issues. People in numerous countries make this a practice (most famously referred to as a siesta) by dozing off after a midday meal. Some big corporations such as Nike and Deloitte Consulting even encourage their employees to nap on company time, according to a November article in Business Week Magazine.
Last year, a study at the Stanford School of medicine allowed a group of emergency room workers to take a 40-minute nap in the middle of an all-night shift. The group was reported as being more vigorous, less fatigued and better able to complete simulated intravenous insertion than the group not allowed to nap.
Despite the volumes of studies that support napping, today’s society has largely shunned the idea, instead getting their needed energy kick from a venti espresso at Starbucks or by slamming a Red Bull. But the risks associated with sleep deprivation are far too great to take lightly.
According to an article in The Washington Post published in 2005, not getting enough sleep increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, among other ailments. Drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel account for 1,500 accidents each year, according to the American Psychological Association.
But what if you’re not a napper? Jill Murphy Long, author of “Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit,” gives a few tips for getting in the zone. According to Long, people should rest in a quiet, darkened space away from distractions. The space should be comfortable and kept at a cool temperature, she said. People should aim to rest for at least 15 minutes, she said, though 30 minutes is ideal.
So the next time you see Zs floating in front of your eyes in the middle of the day, don’t run to make a third pot of coffee; nod off into dreamland for a short while. It’s good for you.
Josh Krane is a journalism senior and Mustang Daily reporter.