Good afternoon my fellow classmates and teacher, let me ask all of you something, are you sleepy? Do you feel like you still need to sleep? Have you perhaps dozed off and couldn’t read properly or can’t pay attention to what the teacher says? Fear not, because today I will present to you a question, we all should be asking. “Should we implement nap times during school or work times?” Me and my group has already and unanimously decided that we all agreed that we should be given nap times during school and work time as it has many health benefits that it can bestow upon us. All of you may be wondering, how can a measly nap have such a significant impact on our wellbeing and performance?
Having as short as a 30-minute nap can greatly improve your physical and cognitive performance, as well as greatly sharpening your concentration, perception, mood, memory, and creativity. It can greatly reduce daytime sleepiness, which we all have suffered from, from time to time, and it can also boost learning effectiveness tremendously. It can significantly reduce the physical and cognitive restraints that are caused by sleep loss or fatigue induced trainings such as going to school and trying to learn complex things at school. China has already implemented a nap time schedule or system in office work settings and schools, and it has shown that it greatly improved their people not just physically or cognitively, but also mentally and emotionally. It will also satisfy the desires of students to rest after not having sufficient sleep at their own abode, even I suffer fatigue and drowsiness from time to time.
But now, it’s not all sun shines and rainbows for this type of system has its drawbacks of having nap time system in our school and workplace can vary. The most notable downsides of this system are the need to sacrifice precious time and resources to accommodate the need of the students at nap time. There is also something called nap inertia, and that is the process of having more than 30 minutes of napping can greatly reduce your performance than improve it. You may be wondering how? Its simple, having more than 30 minutes of nap time can make your brain simulate a stronger need to sleep causing grogginess and exhaustion. Doing too much napping can severely hinder your performance in work or school-based activities rather than improving it, so its highly advised that you take a nap that is only 30 to 20 minutes long. Napping can also take away valuable educational opportunities, and make students miss out on precious knowledge that school desperately needs and wants them to know.
Now should schools and workplaces implement a nap time system or routine like China is doing. Like I have stated before, me and my group think that implementing such thing has more upsides than downsides. I have personally suffered from daytime sleepiness and my academic performance also suffered due to it. But by napping such problems can be a thing in the past, a 30-minute nap time can significantly impact a student’s life tremendously, making them more alert and active than ever before. I have suffered for far too long, I shall not stand idly and watch as people helplessly lose focus due to sleepiness, sacrificing their academic greatness for much need sleep. That is all thank you.
Cyrell A. Pareja - Nocidal is a Teacher III and holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in General Science and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Education, major in Science (CAR). Passionate about lifelong learning and student growth, she believes that "Silence reminds us that good things take time." A true omnivert, Cyrell enjoys both solitude and social interactions, making her a well-balanced and adaptable educator.
The Teachers' Guide International Magazine, January 31, 2025 (ISSN 2984-9799)