What I Love About Naps: Delicious Decadence
I must confess something that may change your opinion of me. I am a serious napper. It doesn't happen all the time, or even every week, but when I'm able to take a nap, I feel like I've won.
Naps are delicious. I love them on slow, rainy days. I love them on sunny days -- closing my eyes while the sun still shines feels like a stolen treat.
The best part of my naps is my napping blanket. I know that's weird for a 40 year old woman to say, but there it is. It's perfect; heavy enough to create a cocoon, but light enough that it doesn't weigh me down. My preferred spot to nap is in our bedroom, box fan whirring. I lie on top of my regular blankets, of course -- any respectable napper knows that getting under the covers is a bad idea.
Last month my whole family was hit by the flu, four fallen soldiers. Not me, though. Even after a week of cleaning up messes and wiping noses, I remained healthy. Greg teased that the secret to my health perhaps lies in my naps. I think he's on to something.
We hurtle through our weeks; karate, soccer, work, meetings, birthday parties, family gatherings. We have calendars synced, notifications popping up, emails tugging at our attention. We are being pulled in so many directions all the time. A nap restores me. There's something about pushing pause on life that makes me able to be more focused, more productive, more present.
I won't get a nap this weekend and I'm already looking forward to next weekend when our pace might be a little slower after another crazy week and I can hibernate for an hour.
Yay naps! I usually don't plan for a nap and then it happens on the couch when I'm watching tv. Or even while the kids play around me!
ReplyDeleteHope you get your nap in next week!
We're enjoying a girls' weekend because our friend Annie from State College is visiting, and she is stealing a nap right now so she "could be a better friend" (her words)! Ha. I love a good nap every once in a while, too! The key is to sleep just long enough to feel refreshed and not long enough to feel like you've been hit by a bus when you wake up. Ha. I was always jealous of my aunt who could take 10 minute power naps and wake up completely a new woman!
ReplyDeleteI am totally with you about napping! This is one of my greatest pleasures on the weekend. And I love to nap in the upstairs guest room, with the sun beaming in on me. I totally agree with you about the healthiness of napping.
ReplyDeleteI so envy you! My husband is a great mapper, but me, not so much. We often have discussions about how important and beneficial naps are. I will keep trying. Maybe a special napping blanket is in order!
ReplyDeleteI came back this morning from my sister-in-law's birthday celebration (where I got four and a half hours of sleep) and took a 3 and a half hour nap. I can't do it often, but when I do, it's a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is a day I do not think of a nap! I always say I am going to lay down for a cat nap for 10-15 minutes and that will refresh me! I think it but never do it! Today, I did take a nap...not a cat nap but a long nap! Boy did that feel great! I LOVE naps too!
ReplyDeleteI have become a nap convert this year. As Holly said, get the timing wrong and you've messed up your day, but otherwise, YES. I just took a great nap while my husband took a walk, and I am trying hard to not feel guilty about it.
ReplyDeleteOh. My. Goodness. I love a good nap. For a long time, I'd nap too long and it would screw up my sleep patterns at night. But I figured out that if I set my phone for 15 minutes, put it on my chest, and then close my eyes....bam! I feel so much better, don't over sleep, and get a good night's sleep to boot! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this sleepy slice with us!
Oh. My. Goodness. I love a good nap. For a long time, I'd nap too long and it would screw up my sleep patterns at night. But I figured out that if I set my phone for 15 minutes, put it on my chest, and then close my eyes....bam! I feel so much better, don't over sleep, and get a good night's sleep to boot! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this sleepy slice with us!
I get a Sunday afternoon nap most weeks. And I love every minute of it. It's not short, but I feel so refreshed by it. Love that you have a napping blanket. I just get under the covers. Works for me!
ReplyDelete