JMU Nap Nook gets mention in Time magazine

The idea of providing napping space for students is catching on at colleges across the country, sparked in part by the Nap Nook at JMU.

The Nap Nook, created during the 2013-14 school year by JMU alumna Caroline Cooke, was featured in an August 29 Time magazine article.

Located on the lower level of Festival, the Nap Nook features large beanbags for students in need of catching up on some sleep. Research shows that sleep deprivation is a barrier to student success.

Students can sign-up for 40-minute time slots online or in person on a sign-in sheet. The ideal naptime is 20-30 minutes, but the 40-minute slots allow students time to settle in and fall asleep. "It's crazy to see how even a 10-minute nap can make such a big difference in your day," Cooke said in an interview last year.

According to the Time magazine article, more than 2,500 naps have been taken at the Nap Nook between September 2013 and May 2014.

Recently, the Nap Nook expanded from five beanbags to nine beanbags, and there are plans to add two white-noise machines to create a more restful environment for students as well. There are also plans to create a Nap Nook on the Bluestone side of campus. "We are working on this effort, and we think it is very important for an adequate amount of quiet space be made available to the Bluestone campus," said Dr. Jeff Dyche,  an associate professor of psychology and adviser for the JMU Sleep & Actigraphy lab.