Most of us learned years ago that our bodies need 7-8 hours of sleep a day, but did you know that six hours or less triples our chance of an accident? Hmmm….I had not heard that, but KNEW that I needed to spend today taking a Sunday siesta.
An hour’s nap can dramatically boost and restore brain power, according to a study done by the department of psychology of UC Berkeley, suggests taking a brief nap not only refreshes the mind, but can also make you smarter. And honestly, I am just sick of the dumb blond jokes, so if a nap makes me smarter, I will surely obey. 😉
I mean if research shows that you can make yourself more alert, reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning with a nap, than who I am to say “no” to more patience, less stress, increased learning, more efficiency and better health? 🙂
Remember how I am challenging you to be more intentional with your choices during these 31 days? Well, this is one challenge you should definitely enjoy.
No guilt involved. Doctor’s orders. GO TAKE A NAP!
(And you’re going to need your siesta since next week we start talking about what to do with cold, hard cash, or the lack of it. I’m just easing you in gently.)
Love this Jen. I am a napping Queen, especially if it’s outside in the sun or in the car when I’m relaxed. I do feel better and more energized. Great post and reminder!
This is exactly what I keep telling my kids. Mom needs a nap so she stays smarter than them. LOL! That and the older I get, the more I feel the “need” for naps.
Have a Blessed Sunday.
I am currently at home while our children are in school. I hardly ever take naps, but now I may have initiative to get those chores, errands and dinner started sooner than later! 🙂
I get up really early compared to most. I take a nap almost every day – just for 20 minutes. It does wonders for me!! Highly recommend even if you don’t fall asleep sometimes just the rest is enough.
I wish my kids would let me get away with a nap, even just once a week! In a few years, maybe … 🙂
Alright, alright. You’ve twisted my arm. I’m going to nap….right…now…
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
This one is impossibly hard for me… I think it’s too deeply ingrained. My upbringing valued productivity and contribution. Napping during the day is unheard of. Babies, elderly and sick people.
I feel better when I’m productive. Losing that time would only stress me out and I’d end up staying up later to get that time back. Even imagining it makes my anxiety level skyrocket. I have too much I want to accomplish each day.
But I’m also a very bad idle person. I like to be busy and I like to be doing something. I don’t know how to do nothing – it makes me itchy and frustrated. If I have to hold still, I need a book or an engrossing movie.
@darcy @ m3b, oh Darcy – I need some of that. 🙂 I completely understand where you are coming from, and often a nap is nearly impossible. I lay down and the kids need me for something every few minutes. But today….there’s something about Sunday snooze that is going to feel SO wonderful. 🙂
I love taking a Sunday afternoon nap! I used to hardly ever do this, but had a nervous breakdown this summer, so one the steps of my therapy is to spend time each and every day doing nothing, but on Sundays hubby joins me and we enjoy just BE-ing together. Good medicine!
Bernice
You have now been raised to hero status. Thanks for the encouragment!
I love naps. You can never go wrong with a nap.
I shouldn’t leave my child unattended for that long, but hey, he’s almost 6 and pretty independent. I am so glad I finally have a reason (better than any excuse I could ever come up with ) to take naps!
Man, I MISSED this post until too late! Oh well, there’s always next week….
Looks like I spent my afternoon very well!
I am a big fan of the nap…yet I often feel guilty about it. Thanks for giving me permission to have a mommy time-out. : )
Sleep is SOOOO important! I have type one diabetes as well as a host of complications. My doctors finally said I needed weight loss surgery to keep my health from going in the crapper. In the lead up to surgery I did a sleep study… I had SEVERE SLEEP APNEA! I’ve probably had this thing for YEARS. I nap all day and night. I have no energy and I can’t keep focused to save my life! I’m now on a CPAP at night, no surgery yet but I’m starting to lose weight, feel better and connect more with my son during the day. Get rest and make sure it’s GOOD rest… don’t put off a sleep study if you think you might have a problem!
I had me a good long nap on Saturday afternoon. It was one of those naps that takes you rather than you taking it. I laid over on the couch and I was out for about 2 hours! I felt so much better after I woke up. I love the picture of the sleeping puppy!