I know I’m in the minority here but I hate naps. I really hate them. I’ve never understood the appeal of deliberately lying down in the middle of the day to have a little rest because every time I’ve ever given in and tried one I’ve woken up feeling like I’ve been hit by a bus.
I’ve listened to people talk about how refreshing naps are, how they boost your energy and make you feel brand new. I’ve really tried to like them but I just can't. I wake up from a nap with a headache, my mouth as dry as the Sahara and the feeling that I’ve missed out on an hour of my life I’ll never get back. Everyone else seems to wake up smiling, stretching and talking about how lovely it was to just switch off for a bit.
My fella loves nothing more than a Sunday afternoon snooze. After having a roast dinner with the football on low volume in the background, the next thing you know he’s out cold. He’ll wake up later looking like he’s had the best sleep in his life. Becky, my eldest is another one who treats naps like they’re an Olympic sport. If she’s going out later she’ll have a nap before she gets ready, like it’s part of some beauty routine. Curtains get closed, she has an alarm set, has a short power nap, then she wakes up looking bright eyed and ready to go like she’s had a full eight hours. I don’t get it! If I tried that, I’d either sleep through my alarm or wake up and be in no mood for a night out!
The worst part is that napping just makes me feel guilty. I can’t relax knowing there’s probably something else I could be doing. My brain won’t stop reminding me about all the tasks waiting for attention like the laundry, cooking tea or that cupboard that I was meant to sort out in 2019. Even if I’m genuinely tired, I can’t switch off properly because I feel like I’m wasting time. The idea of doing nothing in daylight hours feels wrong and when I do finally nap, it’s usually because I’m at death’s door with the flu or some vile bug. That’s the only time my body overrides the guilt but even then I have to be really, really ill. The kind of ill where even scrolling your phone feels like running a marathon.
Despite all of my complaints I envy the nap lovers in my house. They have this magical ability to just stop, say I’m tired so I’m going to sleep and then actually sleep. No overthinking, no guilt, no resistance just blissful sleep. I wish I had that switch. Instead I lie there staring at the ceiling or wall thinking about what a waste of time this is and end up getting up again to fold laundry or scroll through social media.
I’ve heard all the supposed rules of napping. The 20 minute power nap, the mid afternoon sweet spot, don’t nap too late or you’ll mess up your sleep. I’ve tried every version and the result is always the same. Me groggy and moody, wandering around wondering why I didn’t just push through and go to bed early instead.
Do you like a nap? Have you got any tips about how I can switch off and nap?
I have to nap most days due to my health and there are some days I really wish I didn't have to. I try to have an hour and a half at most otherwise I feel all those things that you described. I've been listening to purposely boring podcasts to fall asleep as they distract me from thinking about the rest of the day and what needs doing.
ReplyDeleteI am very close to being like you with regard to naps. I used to not be able to nap and I´d wake up feeling so groggy on the occasions that I did that it seemed like I´d taken a step backwards tired wise instead of forward. However, I have had better luck napping in the past couple of years where I can nap and not feel terrible when I wake up. But over all, I do not consider myself a napper and avoid even trying to nap. My husband is like Stu. He can nap easily and readily and does so. I just found myself yawning. Now if I could just sleep better at night and sleep in on occasion... Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI am not a napper in general, but I have found myself laying down a bit more when I come home from work if I can. I usually don't go to sleep though, but I do enjoy being lazy for a bit! I can't imagine napping for very long and then sleeping through the night.
ReplyDelete