5 Tidbits About Naps

photo credit: @tinyacornphoto

When I was researching naps, I skipped over many scientific facts and the lists of benefits. To me, it was like “blah, blah, blah” when I checked various websites for nap information. I have already been a nap fan for years because I learned all about the benefits and facts when I became a mom. In fact, I just woke up from a nap and I feel refreshed as I write this post. Unless you really want to know ALL the details on why naps are good for you, I believe the following tidbits of information should be enough to get you in the mood to celebrate National Napping Day on Monday, March 11th.

1. Nationaldaycalendar.com reports, “William Anthony, Ph.D., a Boston University Professor and his wife, Camille Anthony, created National Napping Day in 1999 as an effort to spotlight the health benefits to catching up on quality sleep. “

2. National Napping Day is celebrated on the first Monday after Day Light Savings. When we move the clocks forward for the change of seasons from Fall/Winter into Spring/Summer, it’s tough to get thru the new time adjustment on a Monday (the first work day) without yawning.

3. Companies like Google, Uber, Zappos, Capital One Labs, Ben & Jerry’s and Pricewaterhousecoopers know that there are benefits to napping in the mid-afternoon. According to Inc.com , productivity doesn’t suffer. On the contrary, naps are helpful in keeping employees alert and energetic. Companies are investing not only dollars into creating nap-friendly spaces but they are investing resources into finding out what their employees need in order to live healthier lives. Win-win.

4. According to Sleep.org, there is a difference between a power nap and a nap. A power nap is sleeping twenty minutes or less and a nap is any sleep during the day that is over 20 minutes. If one needs more than a power nap - a 90 minute nap is more beneficial than a 30 minute nap because it allows the body and mind to go thru the sleep cycle, therefore leaving us more creative when we awake. The best amount of sleep for a mid-day nap is 10-20 minutes. From experience, I can confirm that sleeping over 20 minutes makes me groggy!

5. Wow, there are 9 kinds of naps according to The Sleep Doctor! I love how Nap A Latte is trademarked! The other eight naps are called: CEO, New Mom, Sports, Disco, Siesta, Shift Work, Teen and Jet Lag.

Each of my kids napped until they were 5 years old. It was one of the parenting virtuosities that I stayed true to and I believe, to this date, is my only claim to fame. Well that, and teaching my kids that writing thank you cards matter. Anyway, when my son was still a toddler the hub would hint around that I should look into hockey lessons. Raising two toddlers while he worked crazy long hours for months at a time was a ludicrous idea but I poked around. I learned about the weird hours due to ice time, expenses, competitive parents who live vicariously thru their children. No thanks, I wasn’t interested in signing up for hockey lessons. The hub insisted that while we were living in a state that cares so deeply about hockey, that we should at least try it. My saving grace was that all the lessons for his age group (that I found) took place during my son’s nap hours. Oh too bad! As the years went by, the hub was starting to fear that our son would be “behind” in hockey if we didn’t get him on the ice before he turned five - this is not to be confused with learning how to ice skate because both kids were in lessons at 3 years old. I put my foot down and like a mama bear, I protected that nap time with every ounce of my body. Side note: I could have also refused because of my own baggage of not wanting to enter into the hockey world. Nevertheless, the day my son turned five, he was on the ice for his first hockey lesson and that is how I became a hockey mom today. Whatever else I may lack in parenting my children, I will always feel good about protecting their nap schedules. I want to believe that these naps helped them to be better sleepers.

I must confess that my kids didn’t always go down for naps without a battle. In fact, if my kids heard the word “nap” it was equivalent to evil punishment. Sigh. If only they could know any better. Which brings me to thoughtful pinch ideas for nappers!

As soon as I saw this shirt, I had to have it! Found it on Pinterest and bought it on Etsy. This pinch is for me but you may know someone who would love it as much as I do. My order is still in transit and I hope it comes by March 11th.

My daughter spotted this night shirt when we were shopping at the Gap Factory and she said I had to get it. She was right. It was a thoughtful pinch to myself and it’s one of my favorite things to wear. The material is super soft and I sized up for baggy freedom.

I feel kind of bad for only sharing two pinch items that coincidentally, I bought for myself! Although, if you log onto Pinterest - there are coffee mugs, pillow cases, sleep masks, etc. available for sale and they will coordinate with the nap theme. You’ll also find memes and nap quotes that are perfect to text over to the nap lovers in your life if your budget doesn’t allow for buying anything. One last suggestion for an awesome thoughtful pinch, and it also doesn’t cost anything, is to give someone the TIME to nap on Napping Day. Offer to watch someone’s kids, pick up a carpool shift, do some light cleaning around their house so they can use the time to nap. Or maybe if you’re a boss or manager, you can allow your crew to put their heads down for a 20 min power nap during the mid-afternoon lull. A nap is such a great gift.

Be sure to post the unique way you celebrate Napping Day on social media using #nationalnappingday.

Pinches,

Barb