Okay – so I am really fatigued lately (due to my “Advanced Maternal Age” and all), and find it NECESSARY to take naps in order to avoid The Zombie Zone. Sleep Deprivation is my enemy!
But let me just throw this out there that sometimes a Nap can be a Mom’s Best Friend. Forget the diamonds. Forget the coffee (okay, that’s just the pregnant me talking).
If you want to have a good day - If you want to accomplish a lot – If you want to ride the crest of success to one of your best days ever:
Take. A. Nap.
By nap – I mean a 20-30 minute resting with your eyes closed, eventually falling asleep nap.
I started in college. You know the cramming-for-a-test-all-nighter with other gals in my dorm, and learned very quickly that a short “Power” nap did me a world of good. As an adult wife & mom – I really require more sleep, but sometimes I don’t get it for a variety of reasons. So, allowing my body to relax for 20-30 minutes sometimes gives me the recharge I need.
Sometimes it takes practice to get there. And sometimes it means sneaking a nap in your car during a lunch break (Yep – I’ve done that). And sometimes it means putting on a show that stops your kids dead in their tracks while you rest your eyes for 20 minutes with the timer on.
Not that I’ve ever done that.
Reality is – Sleep is absolutely necessary for human beings. Without sleep, we will in fact, DIE. Without sleep, our brain is unable to recharge itself and that dull fogginess creeps in and you begin making more mistakes, your body’s chemical processes actually go askew, and you may even find yourself slipping into bad attitudes or depression when your body has a big sleep deficit.
But I’ll tell you what – that quick little nap can do WONDERS! Maybe you won’t feel like climbing Mt. Everest, but maybe you’ll be able to prepare that report for your boss with a clearer head and more accuracy. Maybe you’ll see your house in a more realistic view and be able to tackle the pile of laundry with purpose. Maybe you’ll even feel like taking your kids for a crunchy walk through the Fall leaves.
I know when I am starting to feel negative more and more – and when my head and eyes ache – and when my attitude hits rock bottom – a nap can really give me a much needed boost.
So in the midst of the hurry and bustle and commotion and celebration of the upcoming holiday season, may I strongly recommend that when you find yourself overwhelmed by your list of tasks, when you find yourself snapping at your family or getting cranky because it looks like an F-5 tornado ripped through your house that you stop for 20-30 minutes and TAKE A NAP.
It absolutely Works for Me!
© 2009 – 2010, Debbie Taylor. All rights reserved.
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Preach it Sista! I NEVER napped or rested when my first born twins were infants. I felt like the SAHM police would come over and think I was a slacker. I just COULD NOT bring myself to rest while they rested. NOW being a mom to twin two and a half year olds. I try and rest for at least a little bit. I suddenly found that all the moms who were telling me to get a break during their naps were the same moms who were balanced and happy. Hmmmm??? Could there be someting to that? of course
I am not a napper but I am a reader so I enjoy a good book or tv show while they nap. It feels like a mini-vacay in the middle of the day. Great advice!