If given an extra hour or two on a Saturday afternoon, some people will go out and play a round of golf or tennis. (There's never time for both.) Others will take a warm bath, curl up with a good book or make a fresh batch of homemade peanut butter cookies. Maybe there's a good movie or game or "Naked and Afraid" on TV. Some (but not many) will clean out the garage. Each of these options has its own attributes, and I might choose any of them on an unencumbered Saturday, but none would be my first choice.
I have a secret indulgence reserved for Saturday afternoons. Sometimes my husband joins me. When I have a moment (or two) I opt for a nap. There, I said it. I am a napper. I love (love, love) taking naps. Some Saturday mornings I wake up early just so I can schedule in a nap. I'm creative that way.
I do not readily admit to my nappiness. It might make me appear lazy - sleeping in the middle of the day and all. We live in a society where productivity and action are valued. (Who's going to clean out the garage if I am on the couch napping?) Still I believe there are inherent benefits to the occasional siesta.
I'm not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 85 percent of mammals are polyphasic sleepers. Polyphasic sleepers snooze in short spurts, aka naps. My felines nap all the time. (They don't call them catnaps for nothing.) If 85 percent of the animal population is doing something there has to be a good reason for it. Napping is a way to avoid predators, get through the day unscathed and stay alive. It's pretty intelligent, really. I always knew my cats were smarter than me.
Animal kingdom aside, many important and influential people throughout history were nappers. Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Napoleon, Einstein and Thomas Edison all napped - but not together. There are actual books written on the benefits of napping, but why read about the subject when you can take a real nap yourself?
Scientific research shows numerous benefits to catching a few ZZZs in the afternoon. A NASA study found that short naps improve performance and alertness. According to the buzz at Buzzfeed, napping can heighten creativity, promote relaxation, enhance memory, brighten mood and lower blood pressure.
We've all heard the expression, "You snooze, you lose." With naps, this might just be the case. Studies show that sleepy fellows reach for less high-fat, sugary foods than those walking around with bags under their eyes. That's not all. I saved the best for last. Sleep deprivation dampens sex drive. Napping reverses the effect. This is exponentiated if you can get your significant other to nap with you.
I may sleep on Saturdays, but some are taking napping to new levels - and days of the week. There's a growing trend that encourages short naps at work. Employers are recognizing the positive benefits of napping and allowing workers to catch a little shut-eye during the lunch hour. Some even provide napping pods and zero gravity chairs to enhance the whole experience. Gentle lighting and vibrations wake employees when it's time to get back to work. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "sleeping on the job."
I've always been a closet napper. Then I did some research for this column and discovered we afternoon sleepers should be loud and proud about our noontime habits. A little afternoon sleep can increase creativity, help you lose weight and boost your sex life. (Ka-ching.) There isn't any pill anywhere that can do that.
Counting sheep after lunch? I say count me in.
- Jill Pertler's column appears Thursdays in the Times. She can be reached at pertmn@qwest.net.
I have a secret indulgence reserved for Saturday afternoons. Sometimes my husband joins me. When I have a moment (or two) I opt for a nap. There, I said it. I am a napper. I love (love, love) taking naps. Some Saturday mornings I wake up early just so I can schedule in a nap. I'm creative that way.
I do not readily admit to my nappiness. It might make me appear lazy - sleeping in the middle of the day and all. We live in a society where productivity and action are valued. (Who's going to clean out the garage if I am on the couch napping?) Still I believe there are inherent benefits to the occasional siesta.
I'm not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 85 percent of mammals are polyphasic sleepers. Polyphasic sleepers snooze in short spurts, aka naps. My felines nap all the time. (They don't call them catnaps for nothing.) If 85 percent of the animal population is doing something there has to be a good reason for it. Napping is a way to avoid predators, get through the day unscathed and stay alive. It's pretty intelligent, really. I always knew my cats were smarter than me.
Animal kingdom aside, many important and influential people throughout history were nappers. Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Napoleon, Einstein and Thomas Edison all napped - but not together. There are actual books written on the benefits of napping, but why read about the subject when you can take a real nap yourself?
Scientific research shows numerous benefits to catching a few ZZZs in the afternoon. A NASA study found that short naps improve performance and alertness. According to the buzz at Buzzfeed, napping can heighten creativity, promote relaxation, enhance memory, brighten mood and lower blood pressure.
We've all heard the expression, "You snooze, you lose." With naps, this might just be the case. Studies show that sleepy fellows reach for less high-fat, sugary foods than those walking around with bags under their eyes. That's not all. I saved the best for last. Sleep deprivation dampens sex drive. Napping reverses the effect. This is exponentiated if you can get your significant other to nap with you.
I may sleep on Saturdays, but some are taking napping to new levels - and days of the week. There's a growing trend that encourages short naps at work. Employers are recognizing the positive benefits of napping and allowing workers to catch a little shut-eye during the lunch hour. Some even provide napping pods and zero gravity chairs to enhance the whole experience. Gentle lighting and vibrations wake employees when it's time to get back to work. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "sleeping on the job."
I've always been a closet napper. Then I did some research for this column and discovered we afternoon sleepers should be loud and proud about our noontime habits. A little afternoon sleep can increase creativity, help you lose weight and boost your sex life. (Ka-ching.) There isn't any pill anywhere that can do that.
Counting sheep after lunch? I say count me in.
- Jill Pertler's column appears Thursdays in the Times. She can be reached at pertmn@qwest.net.
