Living Juicy- The Benefits of Napping
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This post is part of The Living Juicy Project. Check it out!
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I LOOOOOVE napping. So believe me, I’ve really enjoyed this week of The Living Juicy Project.
Unfortunately, not everyone shares my opinion about napping. Lots of people see it as a waste of time. Why sleep when you could be getting stuff done? A friend of mine has been known to say, “Sleeping is just practice for death.”
Well, pooh on them. They don’t know what they’re missing.
SARK says that “napping prepares the mind for new thoughts,” and I’ve found that to be true.
In fact, I just remembered one time I had lost my wallet. I’d been searching for it for days and I couldn’t find it anywhere. It was during a really stressful summer- my stepfather was bed-bound with a cancerous brain tumor and my mom and I were taking care of him. Even a little thing like losing my wallet seemed like a huge deal. I don’t know why, but one day I decided to take a nap. As I woke up I just knew that the wallet was in between the bed-frame and the mattress. I leaned over the side of the bed, looked down, and there it was. Like magic.
Here are some other benefits of napping, aka nappy naps (based on extensive personal research):
- Naps are very refreshing. They’re like a restart button for your mind each day.
- Napping feels so decadent- like you should be doing something else, but instead you’re going to give yourself the gift of a nap. It’s a cheap and easy way to spoil yourself.
- Naps are good with a buddy (or with pets).
- Rainy day naps are magical.
- Naps boost creativity and productivity. It’s scientifically proven. Check out the research by Dr. Mednick. (She has a nap wheel that calculates your optimum napping time.)
If you can’t remember the last time you took a nap, it’s time to try it again. You’ll be glad you did.
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Song to fall asleep with – Stay Awake by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins
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P.S. Here’s a short video with some scientific proof that naps are good. (Use it as a justification for all your naps. I should show it to my friend.)
P.P.S. This is probably the real reason I take so many naps. How can I resist curling up with this cute, little guy?
