Do you nap?

Canada
January 5, 2007 11:26pm CST
I hear people singing the praises of napping and "the power nap." Some say they can be refreshed and raring to go after just ten minutes. I can't nap... not one bit. If I try, I wake up in a LOUSY mood and I'm almost guaranteed to have a headache. It seems that, unless I can sleep for quite a few hours or for the night, there's no point in me trying to rest. It's frustrating too because there are times during the day where my energy level just drops to almost nothing. I wish that I could take a short nap and feel at least somewhat restored. Do you nap? Is it a regular part of your routine? Do you always feel better after or do you have any negative "reactions" to it like I do?
13 people like this
84 responses
@nuttmeg (440)
• United States
6 Jan 07
There were be times when I take a nap everyday, but not always. I love my naps, but hate how I sometimes wake up as you said, feeling in a lousy mood or just lousy all together, headache and all. Sometimes I'll wake up feeling exceptionally groggy or lethargic, and find myself wondering if it was even worth it lol.
• Canada
6 Jan 07
LOL nuttmeg, I say the same thing... "now WHY did I go and do that? I might have been tired before but now I'm tired, crabby as all get-out and I have a massive headache." Yep... that was a good plan ;)
2 people like this
@xcmatx (173)
• United States
6 Jan 07
i nap if im tired and i can find the time to, its usually around an hour or two. I guess your sleeping schedule is a big part, whether you stay up all night and sleep during the day, or just the opposite, or a mixture. How you feel after naps might have to do with how much sleep you got the night before, or how long the nap was.
3 people like this
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
6 Jan 07
Children till the age of 5 or 6 require afternoon nap and people who are aged above 55 also require a nap in the afternoon. The elderly persons do not sleep for 8 hours in the night.
2 people like this
@magnet (2087)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I wish that I can get my 4 year old to take a nap. He is full of energy. He wakes up at 7am and stays awake until 8:30pm
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jan 07
Wow magnet, that's definitely a little ball of energy you have there! :) My kids took naps during the day almost up until the time they started kindergarten. I slowly broke them of the habit only because it would interfere with the school schedule... but they sure did love their naps!
1 person likes this
@linda345 (2661)
• Canada
6 Jan 07
I tend to have a nap on Saturday and Sunday because I stay up later on weekend nights. Sometimes I will nap during the week. The only problem with me napping I have to wake up and not have someone else wake me up other wise I am toast.
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jan 07
I can relate linda... I've bitten my husband's head off more times than I'm comfortable with because he was the unfortunate soul who had to try to wake me up LOL
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
6 Jan 07
I nap but sometimes I need to I have Chronic Fatuge and ms so yeah I do take naps sometimes
3 people like this
• India
6 Jan 07
We sleep in night to rejevunate for the next day activity.as we tend to work more, it has become necessary for our brain to rest and rejoice. Scientist has proved that taking 20 min nap is like refressing the brain. For problem solvers,trouble-shooters,writers and/or other people doing creative or intellectual work, the benefits of a short 20-min nap can be similar to a transfusion of blood plasma. This short nap stand-by your brain and makes it settle all the information it has gained so far.So after a nap you are fresh and ready to take any situation.I personnaly sleep for 25 min in my office after lunch.And believe me it really works wonderful in my afternoon-meetings. For more information check- www.pioneerthinking.com/menrejuv.html
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jan 07
Thank you so much silvermirage :) That's very interesting to me as I do most of the things you outlined in the course of my work.
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
6 Jan 07
Power Nap - Power Nap
Yes I do take "power nap" whenever I feel the need to do so. A proper power nap should be no longer than an hour, absolute maximum, because any longer can make it difficult to get to sleep at night. Also it should not be too late in the afternoon, again because it could make it difficult to get to sleep at night. If you feel that you cannot power nap but are low on energy then just lie back in the chair for a short time. Try to relax, listen to music or whatever but taking a break will help anyway. In Victoria Australia there are often road signs showing "Power Nap" areas, where drivers can pull over for a rest if they are tired. They are a great idea and if it is good enough to take a bit of a rest while driving, then it is good enough to do so at home. Other states have similar signs, particularly when driving in the country areas.
• Canada
6 Jan 07
ossie that's very cool! Power nap stops...wow :) I do agree that some people, while driving, get really overtired but push themselves to the limits to get where they are trying to go. Having the reminder of an identified area to stop is terrific. I do try to just relax in one of the recliners, rather than sleep, in an effort to avoid the negative feelings I get from napping and, you're right, it does help. It's unfortunate that, many times, I'll fall asleep anyway so I miss the benefits of just a relaxing break.
2 people like this
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I love naps, but it's very hard to take them safely my blood suagr levels get so volatile when I relax, if I nap, I usually go too low, and have to get up quickly to fix the reaction which also throws my blood pressure off, so whilst I adore naps, tey hate me,lol.
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jan 07
Pendragon, I've often wondered about those things. I've had blood tests on a regular basis that show no problem with blood sugar at all... but I do have blood pressure problems. I often wonder if my reaction to napping has longer legs than me just waking up cranky. Thanks for giving me food for thought :)
• United States
6 Jan 07
Oh my goodness do I ever know what you're talking about. If I don't lay down to nap for at least an hour or more, you might as well forget it. I feel groggy, sick, grumpy, headache, completely out of it - I would have been better off just staying awake until bed time. And my lag time is about 2 or 3 in the afternoon everyday. You can guarantee that my mind is going out the window and that sand will fill my eyelids. I thought I was the only abnormal person where this is concerned...but I DEFINITELY can not take naps.
• Canada
6 Jan 07
Well, if it's abnormal, then sign me up in the ranks LOL I forgot, until I read your post, that I also do feel sick most times... to the point of being quite nauseous... when I first get up from a nap. I used to work with a guy who would do the 10-15 minute nap in his office on his lunch break and then he'd pop up, all fresh and ready to get back to work. I wanted to smack him most days ;)
1 person likes this
@onlyme123 (124)
• United States
7 Jan 07
We all have different body chemistries, and naps might not work for everyone. I wish I could nap, but I don't have the opportunity during the day. On the weekend, when I have a chance for a nap, I have more energy that evening. So first of all, listen to your body. If naps make your day worse, don't take them. Do something else instead to rev up your energy, like exercise. A brisk walk, jog, or some other physical activity outdoors sometimes work better for many people. Try it!
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
6 Jan 07
I used to nap when my kids were napping . For a few years after that if I did not have a nap around 2:00pm I was just plain exhausted. I only have the odd nap now, but only if I fall asleep in the afternoon while trying to read
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jan 07
I fall asleep all the time if I try to watch tv or, often, when watching a movie. I usually assume it's because I'm just tired from the rest of the day but I don't know... it's pretty consistent. Plus it makes me mad because I miss the end of so many films LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Jan 07
I also do not nap, however, I am someone who loves, loves coffee. The only time that I have been able to nap, is if I have been traveling without rest, or if I have pulled too many "all-nighters" during finals week. Also, I do get very sickly-feeling if I nap and it is a really hot day, or even if it is just a wierd day in general, I usually have a headache also. I, too, here many people talking about how great napping is, but it is not like everyone can nap, when they have work or kids, so those people that do get regular naps, are very rare indeed. Even if I could nap, I would not be able to fit it into my schedule.
2 people like this
@Deane_2005 (1644)
• Philippines
6 Jan 07
I usually take a nap if I have time but sometimes I get to sleep soundly that when I wake up its almost night time. Then I will have a hard time sleeping already. But its really restore strength and I feel better most of the time.
2 people like this
@ktroth (378)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I rarely nap, but when I do, if I sleep for more than 20 minutes I wake up feeling like you do--in a lousy mood and with a headache. But 20 minutes seems to be the magic number. And most of the time, my body wakes itself up after 20 minutes. After those 20 minutes, I feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the day. My husband says if you need to be refreshed and re-energized you should eat a banana--it gives you energy. He says the same thing about pickles. So I don't know!
• Canada
6 Jan 07
I do know that bananas give you potassium because my grandmother used to have dizzy and fainting spells and her doctor made her eat at least one banana per day... now pickles, I'm not so sure LOL But whatever works! Thanks for your tips! ;)
@nandans (1160)
• India
6 Jan 07
Whenever i gre free time, i take a short nap :)
2 people like this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I definately take naps. I don't like short naps either though, I take a nice 1-2 hour naps to really rejuvenate myself. Sometimes it feels so good.
2 people like this
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
6 Jan 07
I never take a nap.i just dont have time to take a nap to many things going on.I was up last night untill 3:oo am. couldnt get to sleep. and when i finally did , i was up by 7:30am. I am very tired right now,but i wont take a nap.
2 people like this
• India
6 Jan 07
i personally nap and ,fortunately it refreshes me tremendously..as far u r concerned ..don't nap if u feel drousy once u out of the nap..do what suits u . cheers.
2 people like this
@Reviver (339)
• Romania
6 Jan 07
I never used to nap and I try not to now. Often if I lay down, even if I don't feel tired, I fall asleep and stay asleep for a few hours. I can't generally take short naps. I never even did as a kid. I remember one time at nap time, me and a few friends stayed awake
2 people like this
• United States
6 Jan 07
naps are the best except when you wake up your kinda cranky =-)
2 people like this