Sleep is probably the biggest luxury in college. It’s pretty easy to find yourself going with only four hours a night during the weekdays and then, well, missing the opportunity to catch up on the weekend. We all feel the effects of this sleep deprivation, but they are more harmful than we like to admit. In fact, according to a University of Michigan Report, getting less than six hours or MORE than nine hours of sleep per night is associated with a 1.7 times greater likely hood for disease or death. That is a pretty serious consequences not to mention decreased energy, attentiveness and performance.

Obviously I’d recommend getting the suggested seven to eight hours of sleep per night, but let’s be realistic - college life doesn’t really allow that. Often, all we need is a pick me up that can keep us awake for a few hours longer to finish that paper, or read that last chapter. Most people turn to an overdose on caffeine, however an alternative that I have been using very successfully since my freshman year is power napping. I’m sure the word napping gets you interested, as it would most every college student. However, a power nap is a not a three to five hour siesta but rather a fifteen to thirty minute mental refresh. Most of the people I suggest this to say they can’t just sleep for fifteen to thirty minutes, but the idea here is not to fall into a deep sleep, but give your mind and body a quick chance to relax and recharge. In fact, sleeping any longer than thirty minutes will start to bring you into slow-wave sleep where awaking in the middle will produce a negative effect.

The best way to approach power napping is to lie down on your bed with as little noise and light around you as possible. Then, focus on your breathing and allow your mind to follow your breath’s slow rhythm. Soon you should actually feel a bizarre dreamlike state where your thoughts get louder and feel more real. Make sure you set an alarm, or else you risk sleeping for too long. The best time of day for a power nap I find is usually around 11:00am or 3:00pm. I would also recommend not eating right before. If you want to really jazz up your power nap, make it a caffeine nap by downing a Redbull or coffee right before you shut your eyes. It might be a bit harder to fall asleep, but if you are tired enough, then it should work fine.