No sleep is good sleep 

Why are the benefits of napping continuously neglected in adulthood unlike they are in childhood? This question doesn’t get the attention it should, especially in today’s fast paced world with hardworking individuals who struggle with healthy sleep schedules. This especially affects students throughout college and high school who are used to waking up early for seven hour school days and going to bed late due to homework and other activities. Because of this students are experiencing lack of sleep causing stress and anxiety which over time can lead to serious physical and mental health concerns. To resolve this we must reinstall our beliefs in the benefits from napping throughout the day like many European cultures and children do. Mental health is a huge issue we face in today’s society especially amongst students and in order to tackle this very complicated issue that must be solved one step at a time, which includes eliminating sleep deprivation and the negative effects it causes physiologically. 

Infants and children are raised on the practice of a healthy napping schedule throughout the day. These napping periods play a vital role in the overall happiness of a child and without them children will be drained, whiny, and emotional. It’s shocking how we’ve adapted to the benefits napping has on our youth while also being so blind to its benefits in adulthood. We can blame this attitude towards napping in adulthood on the stigma it holds in the public’s eyes, especially in the western world where napping is viewed as wasteful time management and lazy. These are many reasons why the skill of napping has died with us as we enter into adulthood, traditionally transitioning from childhood to adulthood means you have to ‘grow up’ and stop doing childish activities such as napping. When in reality this stigma is preventing quality mental health and energy. In the article When Should Kids Stop Napping by Alexa fry it states “When children no longer take naps, they may need more sleep at nighttime. It is recommended that parents make bedtime earlier for children who are no longer napping so that they have the necessary amount of sleep”. Thus representing how without naps children’s sleep is affected based on the amount of sleep they need to be considered healthy. Adults are expected to adapt to these healthy sleep schedules and thrive but in reality only 11% of working class people and students get a healthy amount of sleep. This explains the drowsiness, laziness, and sleep deprivation so many people experience, but instead of turning to ‘grown up’ alternatives like nicotine, caffeine, or medication the real answer should be naps. 

To be used at its maximum potental napping is something people need to be more educated about. Similar to a sleep schedule, napping needs to be regulated and organized. If not, naps can become irregular and extended which may cause negative  effects. For example in the article Can a Nap Boost Brain Health? John Hopskins medicine explains the benefits of a healthy nap schedule saying “Scientists found that people who napped for 30 to 90 minutes had better word recall – which is a sign of good memory – than people who did not nap or who napped for longer than 90 minutes. People who napped for that golden 30 to 90 minutes were also better at figure drawing, another sign of good cognition”. Showing how naps ranging from 30 to 90 minutes several times a week can positively affect the brain and its ability to learn, perform, and memorize. On the other hand the people who did not nap in this experiment saw substantially lower results. It’s so important to know this information because experienced nappers might oversleep causing chaos on their sleep scale as a whole and furthering the problem at hand. John Hopskins medicine also states “Resting more during the day may be a sign of poor quality nighttime sleep, according to Gamaldo. ‘In the study, naps longer than 90 minutes could have been called ‘a second sleep.’ This poor quality nighttime sleep – the kind that requires extra-long napping during the day – can lead to cognitive problems, she adds”. Thus proving that napping too much can have a negative effect on the body and brain. This is why people need to learn the fundamentals of napping in order to maximize its benefits and incorporate it into their daily lives. 

Many mediterranean countries like Spain and Italy participate in taking a midday ‘siesta’ which translates to a nap or rest break in latin. European countries have been doing this for centuries in efforts to give working class people and especially famers a break to rejuvenate during the hottest part of the day.  These countries believe the ‘siesta’ plays a vital role in their ability to get through the day and stay functional. Some towns in Spain go as far as shutting down business between the hours of 2pm and 5pm in order to enforce this rule. It seems these countries have come to socially accept the idea of naps and the benefits it offers for its people. The western world needs to consider adopting these customs into their own lives, especially because the speed of life is so much quicker and work days are so much longer in the United states. 

If your student or hardworking individual decides whether to incorporate naps in your daily routine, just ask yourself if you are struggling to get a healthy amount of sleep because of busy schedules consider the various benefits that come with exercising a 30-90 minute nap per day. It’s in your personal best interest to live a life where you feel your healthiest day in and day out. If napping is used so commonly in European countries and with our children for its benefits why can’t students and other adults use this practice as well. Especially because the evidence is so apparent that naps can help cure sleep deprivation, this also eliminates the need for unnecessary external substances such as medicine, drugs, or caffeine. 

References  

Breus, Dr. Michael. “Siestas.” The Sleep Doctor, 8 Sept. 2022, https://thesleepdoctor.com/circadian-rhythm/siestas/. 

“Can a Nap Boost Brain Health?” Can a Nap Boost Brain Health? | Johns Hopkins Medicine, 27 Oct. 2021, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/can-a-nap-boost-brain-health#:~:text=Scientists%20found%20that%20people%20who,another%20sign%20of%20good%20cognition. 

“How to Get a Great Nap.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 Nov. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319#:~:text=Aim%20to%20nap%20for%20only,are%20to%20feel%20groggy%20afterward. “When Should Kids Stop Taking Regular Naps?” Sleep Foundation, 27 Sept. 2022, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/when-do-kids-stop-napping#:~:text=Infants%20until%20one%20year%20of,observed%20sleeping%20well%20at%20night.