Health Education & Promotion
Wellness: Napping & Sleeping Resources
Napping Tips
Did you know that taking a 20-30 minute nap could improve your academic performance? Follow the tips below and you will be on your way to success!
- Limit your nap to 20-30 minutes. This will boost your alertness, productivity and concentration.
- Set an alarm to wake you up in 20-30 minutes.
- Nap in the late morning or early afternoon. If you nap late in the day you may disrupt your nighttime sleep.
- Minimize sleep distractions with a dark and quiet place to nap. Use an eyeshade and earplugs.
Recommended Resources
Below are some web resources related to napping and sleeping:
- The UC Davis Nap Map
There are lots of places to nap on the UC Davis campus. Here at Health Education and Promotion, we've done the research for you! Here are the best places to nap on campus, as chosen by YOU! - The Nap In Workshop (pdf)
What do Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Leonardo Da Vinci have in common? All of them were devoted nappers! The first ever UC Davis Nap In was held on March 10, 2010. Co-sponsored by the ASUCD and Campus Unions, the event featured information on the academic and health benefits of napping. Miss the Nap In but want to make napping your secret to success? Follow this presentation and discover more reasons why napping is great for your body and mind! - Napping to Win (WebMD)
Not convinced that you can make a nap work for you? This article goes into the different aspects of a nap that are vital for you to get the most out of your nap. It really is simple to take a nap, just because NASA pilots do it, doesn’t mean you can’t! - 15 Proven Tips for the Perfect Nap (ManageYourLife.com)
Ready to give the power nap a try, but not sure how to make it work? This article provides great tips on how to take the most efficient power nap. You will learn easy to follow guidelines that can help you get more out of that 20-30 minutes than you ever dreamed of! - National Sleep Foundation (National Sleep Foundation)
Want the “A to Zzz’s” on sleep? Check out the National Sleep Foundation website for the answers to any sleep question you can dream of! Check out the long list of topics and their relation to sleep from ADHD to Traveling. - The Science of Sleep (British Broadcasting Corporation - BBC)
Looking for a general understanding of what sleep is? Check out this link to the BBC’s Science page. It tells you about sleep cycles, why we sleep and what would happen if we did not sleep. You can even compare the average hours of sleep per day of an elephant to a tiger! - Understanding Sleep (National Institutes of Health - NIH)
Want to know more about the “dynamic activity of sleep?” This link takes you deeper into circadian rhythms and sleep disorders and diseases. You can even get some tips on how to get a better night’s sleep! - Tips for Getting Better Sleep (Helpguide.org)
Ready to start improving the quality of your sleep? Get great, in-depth tips on little changes to your lifestyle that will improve the quality and quantity of your sleep. - Relaxation Techniques (Sleep Disorders Center, University of Maryland)
Feeling stressed about sleep? Try a few of the relaxation techniques provided by this article. They will leave you feeling calm and ease you into restful night's sleep.
Campus Resources
For more information on campus resources and services related to sleep check out:
- SHCS Medical Services
(UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services) - SHCS Stress and Wellness Clinic (UC Davis Counseling and Psychological Services - CAPS)
- Fitness and Wellness Center (UC Davis Campus Recreation)
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