Do you ever take a nap?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (58683)
May 30, 2026 5:46pm CST
I honestly hardly ever did, until the son was in the accident and sickly. I've always been a night owl my entire life, but I did sleep for a reasonable number of hours, at least for me. I never used to nap unless I was sickly myself, or had a dreaded, horrible migraine. But now, naps are often a must here.
I feel I can't sleep for the most part unless he is sleeping, at least not on what I would term his ''bad days'' because, well...I'm a Mom. It's what we do. He has had a number of emergencies and falls, so...like I said, it's what we do.
After lunch today, he commented that he was so tired. He sat in the recliner and was asleep in a few minutes, and I was surprised. I figured he would wake right up again (typical) but he didn't, so guess who hit the couch? Yep. And OH, did it feel nice. I have the ceiling fan on, and I slept, he slept, it was so wonderful. Yes, it may affect our sleep tonight, but I am way past worrying about that. To grab a few hours of uninterrupted rest was so wonderful.
I have to remember that napping is better than going for hours with no sleep...it refreshes me and helps so much.
It truly was a totally delicious nap!
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14 people like this
14 responses
@AmbiePam (120036)
• United States
17h
For the longest time I couldn’t nap at all, and then the last few years have just been wonky. You learn when you have chronic illness to just take the sleep when you can. Don’t question it, just get that sleep.
Back when I was just starting to get sick (around 18, 19 years old), my dad would find me in bed in the middle of the day, and he would get mad. He’d say this is why you can’t sleep at night! He’d get so frustrated with me, and it took him a couple years to really understand you rest when you can, and you quit asking why.
I’m very glad you got such a good nap!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
17h
That's the best description I have heard yet--you literally do sleep when you can, because you need the sleep and you don't ask why. You just do it!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208287)
• United States
17h
I bet it was so refreshing for both of you. I did nap one day about a week ago when I wasn't feeling well. It was a very long name like 4 hours..that is not usual at all for me..but I needed the rest and recovery.Nico napped with me, and he was happy as a clam.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
17h
You must have picked up a one day long ''bug'' from somewhere, I know you usually keep busy all day long. I imagine Nico did enjoy his extra nap with Mom!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86240)
• United States
14h
I take naps between my naps before bedtime! 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
13h
Those naps are probably very short naps...I know you aren't one bit lazy! 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
12h
@FourWalls
I know I have a tendency to sometimes overdo or exceed my physical limits. I’ve been trying to do better with that. I expect too much of myself at times and of course even though I know I get older every year, in my head I still have endless energy…which we know isn’t true!!!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56086)
• Canada
17h
I napped for 20 minutes this afternoon.
I was up super early this morning and busy all morning long, and like at your house, my husband fell asleep in the recliner, and he slept for a while, and then I went off to bed to lie down for 20 and feel great after that.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
13h
It takes me at least 20 minutes to go to sleep, so I need longer than that, I guess. But I am glad you got your power nap in!
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56086)
• Canada
6h
@MarieCoyle I couldn't sleep longer than that, if I cannot nod off immediately then I am not tired enough for a nap.
@Deepizzaguy (121763)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17h
I usually take naps early in the morning after I go to the bathroom for a short period of time.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (121763)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13h
@MarieCoyle It is a good plan for me.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
12h
@Deepizzaguy
Sometimes I know I push myself too hard. I’m working on that problem. 
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
13h
You are allowed to take naps at work, or am I misunderstanding that somehow? I do agree that it sure does help me to reboot, as you say. That was the most awesome nap ever!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
10h
@Jehanne
That's simply amazing to me. I have never known any employer here that allowed naps! Very nice, indeed.
1 person likes this
@Jehanne (1629)
• Philippines
10h
@MarieCoyle yes! we are allowed to take nap at work. You heard me right
Our supervisor allowed us to take a nap in between work when we needed to. yay!
Our supervisor allowed us to take a nap in between work when we needed to. yay!1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169246)
• United States
3h
I rarely take a deliberate laying down nap. If I do my brain never seems to come back in focus otherwise. I do doze off in various chairs. The desk chair, my arm chair, etc. That is usually more like a "blink". Five minutes or less. I know I may find myself needing more if Bob has restless nights. Right now he does not.
@wolfgirl569 (135180)
• Marion, Ohio
3h
I have at times. Usually when I don't feel good but also when I have been taking care of someone
@MarieCoyle (58683)
•
10h
I never napped when I could get a decent night of sleep. But now it's basically a crapshoot, so I take what sleep I can get!
When you have jerks when trying to get to sleep, they are called hypnic jerks. My aunt had this problem for years...supposedly it can be caused by excessive caffeine before bedtime, stress, and happens more to people who are extremely tired. I know she fought it for years. I hauled her to the doctor several times with this, I cannot remember what it was, but he did give her a medication that seemed to help her then.
@LooeyVille (74)
• United States
Just now
I used to nap all the time, every day, but now that the doctor gave me this "wakefulness" medicine for Sleep Apnea, I don't nap anymore.
