Let me just admit that napping is one of my favorite hobbies. Yes, hobby. As with other hobbies, napping takes practice and dedication.
There are a few different categories of naps. First, the recovery nap for when a person is sick, sleep deprived, or just had a baby. This kind of nap is about recovery and getting the body back to a mode of basic functionality. These can be as long as necessary. They are critical to your sanity and health, but not really that much fun.
Next, there is the midday 15-minute reset nap. This nap form is about lying down, falling asleep within a few minutes and then waking up refreshed and ready to get back to work. A regular yoga and meditation practice can help perfect the art of this kind of nap.
Finally, and my favorite, is the Sunday afternoon nap. This naps takes place with a good book, a quiet house, and a cool breeze. I love these. They are not really about the rest but more about the fact that I have carved out time to do absolutely nothing. It’s a little vacation with myself. I am quite serious about these and if something gets on my schedule for a Sunday afternoon, it better be good.
So do you nap? My father-in–law thinks napping is a waste of time. For me, it’s just the opposite. It helps me keep my pace for the rest of my life. It all comes down to how you look at it and, like yoga and meditation, it’s not just the actual time spent napping but what it brings to the rest of your life.
Happy napping!
Alice Dommert, CEO deliver me wellness