How effective are naps?

That’s a question that seems to split student opinion. Some swear by the practice as a way of surviving their extremely busy schedules, while others deem naps to be something akin to a curse, claiming napping leaves them feeling more tired than before and wastes time.

Sophomore Daniel Ning has experimented with different sleep schedules in the past. During his freshman year, he would stay up all night watching videos, and then end up sleeping during class. Afterwards, still feeling tired, he would continue to nap at home and push starting his homework until 8 p.m.

“That terrible cycle continued all year,” he said. “Then I finally realized that my bad schedule was affecting my grades.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, napping for prolonged periods actually reduces the quality of normal nighttime sleep and interferes with a person’s sleep cycle.  Because the mind starts to hit the deeper stages of sleep after about 30 minutes, the ideal length of a nap is between 20 and 25 minutes.

This year, Ning has attempted to start doing his work earlier and not stay up so late. He is also avoiding naps.

"I started to take school more seriously and also had the energy to do so,” he said. “It was a pretty drastic change compared to how I went about last year, and it's been working out a lot better."

With the increased workload of sophomore year, Ning has found that he needs all the sleep he can get.

For others, however, regular napping can be a source of relaxation that results in a higher quality of work.

“Napping re-energizes me after the tiring school day and helps me have more focus when I do my homework,” junior Kaitlyn Lee said.

While it is true that napping can result in grogginess for some people, research by Dr. Sara Mednick from UC Riverside indicates that naps can also increase concentration and focus, alleviate stress and improve overall performance.

“If I have time and only light homework, I take naps because it allows me to rest and take a break from my life for a while,” sophomore Adrienne Chan said.

Nappers are also in good company — John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein are all known to have appreciated an afternoon nap.

With all these contradicting studies and experiences with napping, it can be confusing whether or not naps are really helpful. In a TIME magazine article, experts explain that any benefits from napping first depends on the person getting a good night’s sleep. According to the article, napping should be used to re-energize during the day and not to replace a person’s nightly sleep.

In addition, naps are simply not for everyone: Scientists speculate that there may be genetic reasons behind the different effects they have on people. It could also have to do with habit, since people who always take naps during the day seem to benefit from them.

Ultimately, for many students who have large loads of work to do after school, the choice of napping depends on individual needs and preferences.  

“Without naps after school I end up doing my homework at a much slower pace because I’m too tired to be efficient,” Lee said. “The only other way I can get through the day is with coffee, but naps are probably a healthier alternative.”