As I move deeper into middle age, I consider the luxury of a mid-afternoon nap to be one of life’s great pleasures. 30 minutes is about right, according to this article. After reading the article though, I can’t help wondering if longer naps are more of a symptom of other health problems or poor lifestyle choices rather than a driver of them.
My personal prescription for a little mid-afternoon pick-me-up:
- Read a book (Kindle is okay, computer or phone not recommended) until you start to feel a bit sleepy.
- Close eyes for 20-30 minutes. Just relax, don’t put any pressure on yourself to sleep, or consider meditation if you don’t feel sleepy.
- Open your eyes and read a bit more.
- Get up and exercise for 20-30 minutes.
- Take a shower.
- Have a cocktail. Don’t overdo it, just one is good.
- Now you’re ready for dinner, people, or whatever you want/need to do in the evening.
Obviously this is not a daily prescription for the harried working parent. I find maybe one afternoon per month to do this, but it is oh so rejuvenating mentally and physically. I fantasize about doing this every day in retirement.