Studying never felt so good. Photo by Abby Shure / North by Northwestern

It’s almost time for finals. Feeling like your brain has taken a hit? Maybe you should shed a few layers. Hank Hyena’s article, Get Naked: It’s Good For Your Brain, has created controversy on whether being naked really can do a body, and mind, good. Currently there are no studies linking brain benefits and nudity, but there have been some associations to a healthier life.

When asked, some students had no qualms about studying nude. “I wrote a whole essay butt naked on my boyfriend’s bed while he was at practice,” says Weinberg Junior Liza Engstrom.

Still others showed a willingness to take the step, but only under certain circumstances. Senior voice major Kelley Hollis comments, “maybe…if it were really hot and I was trying to keep cool.”

On the other hand, a majority of students seemed more inclined to follow Tobais Funke’s “Never Nude” approach, if only to spare their friends. The most common response in favor of modesty as stated by Medill Sophomore Jordan Helton, “I don’t think my roommate would appreciate it.”

So whether you’re baring it all or just a bit, here are some novel nudity tips:

Strip Away Stress
A study published in the Journal of Psychology in 1984 found that social nudists had a more positive body self-concept than those who were nonnudists. They also tend to score higher in body acceptance. Dr. Aileen Goodson writes in her book, Therapy, Nudity & Joy, that emotional and sexual problems often come from guilt or shame about the body.

“People talk about how it’s relaxing, de-stressing… and obviously there are benefits to more sunlight and vitamin B, of course,” says Pete Williams, writer for the official magazine of the American Association of Nudist Recreation (AANR) and host of the radio talk-show The Fitness Buff Show. He adds that nudity can, “eliminate natural barriers in terms of clothing and status.”
“When you shed your clothes, you shed all of the stress in your daily life,” says Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator for the AANR.

Exposing Reposing
Sure, your footy pajamas are cute, but your skin could really use some time to breathe. The evidence is anecdotal, but most people sleep better naked because they feel more comfortable and as a result, have a more restful sleep. It also allows air to move over your body and distribute both warm and cool currents.

According to Ms. Hawkins, “if you are nude you don’t have to worry about struggling with a night gown or PJ’s getting twisted around you which in turn wakes you up and interrupts your sleep.” And don’t forget about your face; leaving on makeup can severely clog your pores. Healthier sleep can leave you more prepared for each day and could even lead to a healthier GPA!

In Nude Company
There are 275 nudist resorts across the country — including in the Chicagoland area. “The misconception in a lot of places is that you have to drop your clothes at the door before you come in the gate — that’s not the case at all,” says Mr. Williams. “You can ease your way in.”

And the general consensus? “Within 5 minutes of getting undressed, it feels like most natural thing in the world.” He adds that familiar, intelligent names have dared to bare. “John Quincy Adams and Teddy Roosevelt used to swim nude in the Potomac.”

So maybe you can’t impress Robert Pattinson by being naked, but you might just feel better. Or, at the very least, you’ll save yourself a couple of bucks next laundry day.