Naps: Not just for your kids
December 5, 2011
Sleep deprivation is common among mothers, especially those who are serving double duty as students. Whether it's a long list of household to-dos, studying for a test, finishing homework, reading, a child who wakes you up during the night or filling out college scholarship and grant applications, many moms who are pursuing a college degree simply sacrifice sleep along the way.
"What mothers need to remember is that if they want to be productive for those 16 hours a day, they need to sleep the other eight," Dr. Ronald Kramer told WebMD. "That's just how it is."
While eight hours of sleep seems like an unattainable luxury to many mothers, experts say they can supplement their sleep schedules by napping during the day.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. In fact, a study conducted by NASA found that a 40-minute nap can improve on-the-job performance by 34 percent and alertness by 100 percent.
If you have small children who nap during the day, laying down to rest when they do is often a good idea. Otherwise, experts say scheduling a half hour for yourself to rest is ideal - simply find a quiet space, set an alarm and doze off!
