Take naps

Research shows naps lead to improvement in cognitive function, creative thinking, and memory performance. In particular, napping benefits the learning process by helping us take in and retain information better.

The improved learning process comes from naps actually helping our brain to solidify memories. According to Max Read,Research indicates that when memory is first recorded in the brain in the hippocampus, to be specific its still fragile and easily forgotten, especially if the brain is asked to memorize more things. Napping, it seems, pushes memories to the neocortex, the brains more permanent storage, preventing them from being overwritten.

One study into memory found that participants did remarkably better on a test following a nap than those who didnt sleep at all.Not only are naps beneficial for consolidating memories and helping us remember new information (handy if your job includes a lot of research during the day!), theyre also useful in helping us to avoid burnout, since research shows burnout is a signal that says you cant take in more information in this part of your brain until youve had a chance to sleep.