When to Take a Nap
by I’m used to running on minimal hours of sleep, but when I realized I had submitted a half-written article to Triond, a nap seemed in order.
By Saturday night, my ability to focus reached such a low, that I managed somehow to submit a half-written article to Triond—fortunately catching it in time to turn it into a Haiku on sleeplessness. (I swear I wrote the whole thing, but I think I didn’t save it as a rough-draft.) Sunday morning, I slept in. I got up, had some breakfast, correctly submitted my write up of my girl’s wedding, played a little World of Warcraft, and attempted to garner enough ambition to go to laundry. My bed looked way too good—I awoke from my nap at 8:30 pm.
Considering that this Monday, my first day back at school after my lovely long weekend, I have a tech plan due and I stayed at school till 9:00 p.m. hanging student art work for the spring Art Show and Band Concert, it was probably one of the best things I’ve done for my career in a long time.
Sleep deprivation can have numerous serious consequences. It impairs mental and physical abilities, weakens the immune system, can cause weight gain, anxiety, even hallucinations if carried to sufficient extremes. There are innumerable causes for insomnia that may result in sleep deprivation: long work hours, anxiousness of various kinds, a desire for play/personal time not available in the normal schedule, parenting young children, environmental noises or other interference with normal sleep patterns. Sleep loss can make one short tempered, impair ability to drive safely, or do other tasks that involve concentration and coordination.
So when should you take a nap? If at all possible, at any time that you have developed a sleep deficit sufficient to impair function. This may vary for different individuals. While it is best to get a full night’s sleep each night, a nap may save your sanity, relations with family, your job or your life. Try to time it for when you are officially off the job; but make time for sleep. You’ll be better for it.
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Post CommentKate Smedley
On March 24, 2009 at 8:11 am
I don’t know how you cram it all in Daisy, I need a good eight hours to function properly! Your life sounds so hectic and you are right, sleep deprivation can be damaging in every way. Thanks for sharing this.
Vince Shocker Knight
On March 24, 2009 at 8:25 am
Cool.
Joe Dorish
On March 24, 2009 at 9:39 am
Sleep deprivation is never good. If only days were 28 hours long.
QuinMonty86
On March 24, 2009 at 10:30 am
Just reading about your days exhausted me!! Don’t know how you do it. Sounds like your body mutinied on you.
Samantha J T
On March 24, 2009 at 10:57 am
Great article, your life sound’s exhausting. I could’nt ever keep up. I think I’d callapse of exhaustion after a few day’s.
Kim Buck
On March 24, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Good read….I love naps and love to nap often.
PR Mace
On March 24, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I do shift work so my sleep is always messed up. I love a nap when I can grab one. I wonder what is would be like to just sleep until I wake up rested.
Denise Kawaii
On March 25, 2009 at 10:03 pm
As another who suffers from bouts of insomnia I can identify closely with your article. I love naps on my days off… they help me catch up on some dream-time between meetings.
rutherfranc
On March 25, 2009 at 11:52 pm
lucky me.. I sleep whenever I want to..
Alicia Wind
On March 26, 2009 at 2:57 pm
As the study shows that taking a nap is healthy and one should do this…
Ruby Hawk
On March 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Everyone should nap every chance they have. It sharpens your thought process and (lets you stay up later at night.) I do my best thinking late at night.