Napping isn’t just for children and the elderly. In fact, some of the most intelligent and successful people in history have been known to nap daily. Famous nappers have included Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy and Lance Armstrong.

According to Brown University’s Health Education Web site, college students are some of the most sleep-deprived people in the country due to their erratic sleeping patterns. In fact, a study conducted by the university concluded that only 11 percent of students have good sleeping habits.

With finals approaching, it may be difficult for students to get the full seven to eight hours of sleep a night recommended by the American Sleep Association.

Although it is important to get an adequate amount of rest at night, sleep researchers say most people become sleepy in the early afternoon because of the way our bodies are programmed.

Gina Palomo, sophomore in animal science, relies on naps to perk her up when she is feeling tired.

“When I take a nap, I always wake up feeling refreshed,” she said. “I am able to focus better and get more done throughout the day.”

In recent years, scientists have found that naps are healthy and can often rejuvenate the body as much as a full night’s rest.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Web site, naps enhance performance, restore alertness and reduce accidents and mistakes. Other benefits that come with increased sleep include improved learning and memory, reduced stress, sharpened senses and most importantly, better health.

Ray Rodriguez, health promotion coordinator at the Thielen Student Health Center, said that although short naps are healthy, they are no substitute for a full night’s sleep. During finals week, Rodriguez advises that students avoid all-nighters.

“You will be much more rested if you get at least seven hours of sleep,” Rodriguez said. “Therefore, you will be more productive and able to accomplish more throughout the day.”

Even when students lead healthy lifestyles and sleep well at night, a daily nap can be still be beneficial.

James Maas, psychologist and sleep expert and Cornell University and author of “Power of Sleep,” believes naps greatly strengthen the ability to pay attention to details and to make decisions.

“Naps taken about eight hours after you wake have been proven to do much more for you than if you added those 20 minutes onto already adequate nocturnal sleep,” Maas said.

To get a perfect nap, lifehack.org suggests finding a quiet area where you will not be disturbed. Since darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, make sure there is not much light in the room. Before napping, avoid consuming caffeine and foods that are high in fat and sugar, which hinder falling asleep. Instead, eat foods rich in calcium and protein, which encourage sleep.

Siestas and

heart disease:

A study led by Harvard School of Public Health’s Dimitrios Trichopoulos, followed more than 23,000 Greek adults and concluded that those who regularly took a mid-day siesta were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease.