The ultimate guide to improved academic performance with the IGNITE Sleep Lounge

How catching some ZZZs can help you do well in school.

If you find yourself yawning throughout the day, the IGNITE Sleep Lounge is your perfect refuge on campus. Located at both the Lakeshore – at the basement of the K building – and North – room KX204 above the IGNITE Student Centre – campuses, this cozy space offers a quiet spot for mid-day naps and recharging.

Here’s how the IGNITE Sleep Lounge can help you catch some much-needed ZZZs and boost your academic performance.

Benefits of napping

A student sleeping in the IGNITE Sleep Lounge. — *Picture by IGNITE.*

First off, let’s clear something up: napping is NOT a synonym for laziness!

In fact, naps can be crucial for balancing your workload and a key to better grades. For post-secondary students, napping comes up clutch with a lot of benefits. A quick nap before class can significantly boost your alertness, making it easier to pay attention and participate. Surprisingly, a post-class nap can help you retain more short-term information, which is vital for acing assignments and exams. Napping can also improve concentration during study sessions and even spark creativity for that essay you’ve been working on.

Beyond academics, naps can strengthen your immune system, helping prevent illnesses, which means less time off classes.

You got it, napping is a game-changer for your student life, but it’s important to know how to make the most out of it.

How to make the most out of your nap

A bed in the IGNITE Sleep Lounge. — *Picture by IGNITE.*

If you don’t take naps because you wake up feeling groggy, it’s likely you’re napping the wrong way. There are steps you can take to maximize the benefits of your nap and avoid that dreaded groggy feeling.

First, let’s tackle the grogginess. To prevent it, keep your naps short – ideally between 15 to 30 minutes. This ensures you wake up refreshed instead of sluggish, so make sure you set an alarm. In addition to this, aim to nap in the afternoon, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This is when your alertness naturally dips after lunch and it’s late enough for your body to allow a nap but not so late that it interferes with your nighttime sleep.

When you wake up, take a few minutes to fully transition back to your day. Splash some water on your face or grab a cup of coffee to shake off any lingering sleepiness and get back into the groove.

One of the most important tips for a successful nap is creating the right environment. Make the room as dark and quiet as possible, adjust the temperature to your liking and ensure your space is cozy and comfortable. An eye mask can also help block any unwanted light.

The best part? The IGNITE Sleep Lounge is designed with all these optimal napping conditions in mind.

IGNITE Sleep Lounge, designed for relaxation

With comfortable beds, private sleeping cubes and an environment designed for maximum coziness, the Sleep Lounge is the ideal place to recharge your energies and facilitate your naps.

After each use, our Sleep Lounge assistants follow strict cleaning protocols to ensure a safe and hygienic space, so you can relax without any worries.

To accommodate as many students as possible, beds are limited to one-hour timeslots. Worried about getting woken up by someone else’s alarm? No need – alarms aren’t allowed. Instead, our assistants will gently wake you when your time is up.

This is a convenient, comfortable space on campus designed for relaxation and recharging.

Use naps as a time-management tool

A woman sleeping on a black leather couch. — *Picture by Alexander Grey via Unsplash.*

If I had to pick one crucial skill for students, it would be time management. This might sound unrealistic, but napping can actually help you improve this skill. Let me break it down.

Incorporate napping into your daily routine as part of your productivity strategy. Choose a specific time each day to visit the IGNITE Sleep Lounge and make it a habit. Create a schedule where you set aside dedicated times for work, study sessions and a mid-day nap at the Sleep Lounge.

By committing to your schedule, you’ll not only enhance your time-management skills but also take care of your well-being by recharging your energies with a nap.

This guide has walked you through the reasons and details of how the IGNITE Sleep Lounge can boost your academic performance.

Available at both the North (KX204 above the IGNITE Student Centre) and Lakeshore (basement of the K building) campuses, the IGNITE Sleep Lounge is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No pre-registration is required, just stop by!

If you have any other questions about the IGNITE Sleep Lounge, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram @shareignite.

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.

Are you going into your last year of school? Check out how to get through your last year of post-secondary!