It’s 8 a.m. Your alarm goes off. Between the screeches of the obnoxious wake-up alarm song and the temptation to press “snooze” and skip class, there’s only one light at the end of the tunnel: an afternoon nap.
Many of us wake up feeling tired, unrested and wishing for just a few more precious moments in our warm and comfortable beds before facing the reality of another long and busy day as a student at Colgate University. Sometimes, the only way we can convince ourselves that getting out of bed is really worth it, is if we immediately promise ourselves a rewarding nap later on. In the early, sleepy moments of the morning, this might seem like the very best solution. I’d have to argue it might be the worst decision you can make when planning out your day.
Colgate is hard, the days can feel long and the homework is never-ending. While I myself am a die-hard Raider, I can’t argue against the fact that sometimes we all just need a short break. Many might think a nap is the perfect break and allows time to rest, reset and refresh before an evening most-likely spent on problem sets, reading and studying. However, in reality, a nap is an interruption that will make your day feel even longer. It takes a sizable amount of time to walk back home, change into comfortable clothes, wind down and doze off, all before actually getting to truly rest. Then, after your nap, you have to wake up, get ready again and resume your day.
To some, this might seem like it’s worth it for that valuable extra half-hour or so of sleep, but, to me, it seems like a recipe for disaster. It’s rare to wake up from a nap without at least some form of lingering grogginess. It is even rarer that you wake up wanting to get out of bed and be productive. Newton’s First Law states that “an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion.” I have to believe this relates to people too. Why not just stay in an academic center, spend a few hours on your homework, meetings, projects, etc. then grab dinner and get to bed earlier? I have to believe getting a few extra hours of sleep at night is better than spending time preparing for and waking up from a short, unproductive nap.
I do understand the appeal. Sometimes you just really need that time in the middle of the day. You can’t keep your eyes open during your hour-and-fifteen-minute class and by the end of it you’re ready to fall asleep right at the desk with no idea what was just taught. You think about your piles of homework due tomorrow and can’t fathom doing anything before you get to rest your eyes. It’s tough and I won’t argue that it isn’t, but I will say: there are other remedies to this feeling of exhaustion. Our campus is beautiful and not yet blanketed by the bitter cold. We are all fortunate enough to have full access to the Trudy Fitness Center, and many of us have meal plans that include options with caffeine or protein. In my opinion, going for a walk or getting a quick snack or drink is a much more efficient way to recharge for a few more hours. It takes a fraction of the time and can deliver the same, if not a better, reenergizing effect.
I won’t claim that you absolutely should never ever take a nap. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Whether that be because someone in 113 Broad Street set the fire alarm off at 3 a.m. and you couldn’t fall back asleep, or you’re battling the same cold that has been circulating around your friend group, sometimes the best option is a short nap.
However, I don’t think naps should be a part of anyone’s regular routine. Sleeping too much during the day will prevent you from getting as much sleep at night, deter you from getting your work done early in the evening and possibly cause you to feel sleepy at the same time each day, as your body will begin to think that a nap is a necessary daily thing. We are lucky to have so many facilities and resources that allow you to move and fuel your body, and I have to believe they’re more energizing than an extra few hours in that ever-so-comfortable dorm bed.
