“Look at these bags under my eyes. Even my bags have bags!” – Squidward Tentacles

Let’s face it: remote learning is tough. Sure, it has its advantages: there’s no commute, you can study in pyjamas, and your schedule’s more flexible – but it’s hard not to miss the comforts of campus.
There’s nothing quite like a bag of freshly popped IGNITE popcorn. Or that crisp fall air pinching your cheeks as you walk to a morning lesson.
And, oh, the sleep lounge. The glorious sleep lounge. It was always there for you when you had so much to do, and you decided to take a nap instead.

Luckily, learning from home doesn’t mean you need to give up your favourite afternoon activity. Here are IGNITE’s top tips for snoozing between Zoom classes:
1. Keep it short
Your nap should be long enough to refresh you, but not so long that you wake up dizzy and unsure of what day it is (hey, we’ve all been there).

The naptime Goldilocks zone is between 10 and 30 minutes. This lets you enjoy a rest without entering into one of the deeper stages of sleep, so it’ll be easier to shake that groggy feeling when you wake up.
2. Stay on schedule
There’s a right time for everything – including a nap. If you nod off too late in the day, you risk messing up your sleep schedule.

The ideal nap time for most people is in the early afternoon, before 3 p.m. Your blood sugar starts to dip a few hours after lunch, making you sleepy, but it’s still early enough that you shouldn’t struggle to fall asleep later.
3. Go to bed
One of the major benefits of learning from home is that, well, you’re at home – you don’t have to find creative ways to doze off at your desk. For the comfiest nap possible, sleep in your bed!

If you don’t have easy access to your mattress, a simple prop can make all the difference. Support your head with a balled-up jacket or neck pillow, or use an eye mask to block out the midday sun.
4. Play some tunes
Rowdy roommates? Frenzied family? Noisy neighbours?
Drown out the racket and drift off to dreamland by playing some soft music into your headphones.

5. Lean back, not forward
Hunching forward while you sleep can cause back pain and spine problems.
If you do decide to sleep at your desk, lean back into your chair instead of slumping onto your table.

When school resumes in person, your beloved sleep lounge will be waiting for you. But, for now, you’re all set to have a super slumber right at home.
Sweet dreams, friends.
Naps are great, but they can make it harder to snooze at night. Here’s how to reset your sleep schedule.
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