News Team Boulder

Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: News

Nap time isn't just for kids anymore. CU recently opened an on-campus nap center to relieve sleepy students. But the opening of the new nap center is bringing up concerns about students' sleep habits and their health.

A majority of the student population on campus is not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep each night. Instead, students are sacrificing their much needed zzz's for much desired A's. Unfortunately, many students are unaware of the numerous health issues caused by a lack of sleep. Among the top health concerns caused by sleep deprivation are: weight gain, high blood pressure, a greater risk of developing diabetes, a weaker immune system, and an increased chance of heart disease.

Increased health risks are not the only negative side effect of sleep loss. Students who skimp on sleep are more likely to:

• age more rapidly
• experience more emotional problems, like depression and anxiety
• have a reduced ability to deal with stress
• show poor judgment, concentration, and an inability to make decisions
• increased chance of getting into a serious accident

A serious health issue can cause more stress for students than getting a bad grade on a test. So what are tired and weary students to do? Take a nap. That's right, research has shown that a simple afternoon nap can reduce stress levels, increase alertness and productivity, and improve memory and learning. This information is music to students' ears.

So how do students get the most out of a quick cat nap? Sleep researchers say the best nap, popularly referred to as the "power nap", lasts about 20 to 30 minutes in length. But Helene Emsellem, author of "Snooze...or Lose! Ten 'No War' Ways to Improve Your Teen's Sleep Habits", takes the science of napping one step further. Emsellem suggests drinking a cup of coffee and then taking a 20 minute snooze to enhance your nap. This might sound weird, but it takes caffeine about 20 to 30 minutes to kick in, just enough time for you to nap and wake up with an extra boost of energy. She also says that 2 or 3pm is the best time to nap, without interfering with your natural body clock. Finally, Emsellem recommends setting an alarm. This will help students avoid sleeping through anything important, as well as preventing them from napping too long, which actually can make you more groggy.

So the next time you are on campus and in need of a boost, visit the Nap Center for a quick nap, guaranteed to benefit you in more ways than one.

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