March 22, 2008
By Mary Lou Aguirre - McClatchy Newspapers
I never considered myself in the same league as Thomas Edison, Salvador Dali or John F. Kennedy, but according to a self-improvement Web site called the Ririan Project, I share one quality with these men: I like to nap.
Setting aside the fact that these people are all dead, I feel better about my need for weekend snoozing. What began as my 3 p.m. Sunday nap has turned into my 3 p.m. Saturday nap, too.
Depending on how much housework I have done in the morning, my nap is taken with or without guilt. I enjoyed a guilt-free nap last Saturday after spending the morning cleaning the kitchen.
"While small children typically take naps in the afternoon, our culture generally frowns upon mid-day sleep; however, many people feel a mid-afternoon slump in mood and alertness," states an article on stress management at www.about.com.
In addition, it's a myth that mid-afternoon drowsiness is caused by eating a heavy lunch. The article cites Roger Broughton, professor of neurology at the University of Ottawa's, findings: "The mid-afternoon dip in alertness and intellectual ability occurs whether or not people eat lunch."
Apparently, not all naps are equal. My naps last about two hours, providing more energy to tackle additional chores.
"Afternoon naps, or siestas, are practiced in many Mediterranean and Latin American countries such as Spain and Argentina," states an article at www.sciencedaily.com. "They are typically short naps or rest periods of no more than an hour that are taken in the afternoon."
My husband and I have different napping styles. I take a purposeful approach and declare to my family: "I'm going to take my 3 p.m. nap now." Translation: "Order pizza if I don't get up before 6 p.m."
My husband, an early riser, resists the idea of a nap. He blames it on his German ancestry, of having to be productive at all times. Which is not to say I haven't found him asleep on the sofa in the middle of the afternoon with book in hand. I think the book is just a ruse - it makes the nap look like an accident, not intentional.
However, napping is not a character flaw.
"The first consideration is psychological. Recognize that you're not being lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up," according to Sara Mednick, author of "Take a Nap! Change Your Life" (Workman Publishing Co., $12.95).
Mednick's Web site, www.saramednick.com, provides tips on the best ways to nap:
Try to nap in the morning or just after lunch; human circadian rhythms make late afternoons a more likely time to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, which will leave you groggy.
In the hour or two before your nap, eat foods high in calcium and protein, which promote sleep.
Try to darken your nap zone or wear an eyeshade. Darkness stimulates melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
She also suggests "find a clean, quiet place where passers-by and phones won't disturb you." My vote for worst places to nap include airports, malls, homes with newborns, homes with Chihuahuas, sports bars during any Fresno State game and Harley-Davidson retailers.
But what to do if you don't have an hour to spare?
"Just close your eyes for five minutes; even a brief rest has the benefit of reducing stress and helping you relax a little, which can give you more energy to complete the tasks of your day," says stress management expert Elizabeth Scott at the Web site about.com.
A cartoon on the Ririan Project Web site nicely sums up things: "Consciousness: That annoying stretch of time between naps."
Comments
Beckie (anonymous) says...
Hi Mary Lou. Thanks so much for removing nap-guilt. I have been telling my boomer friends and readers to take a nap and they, too, think they are being lazy.
My daughter and I have a blog that deals with boomer issues to boomerang issues (her generation). I will be referring to your blog quite a bit because I have not found a better source in the blogosphere than your BoomerGirl, as well as referring to your article about naps! Thanks for the information.
Now I am going to take a nap...
Cheer,
Beckie
April 11, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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