Our Mom is a champion napper. For as long as I can remember, Mom would head up the stairs in the early afternoon to lie down. She would emerge from her bedroom precisely 20-25 minutes later, often declaring “That nap saved my life!”
I honestly felt pretty bad for poor Mom that she had to take a nap every day – I mean, who wants to nap?? What a depressing way to spend a chunk of your day!
Then I became a mom to a spirited 20 month old and a sweet 4 month old…and I just woke up from a 20 minute nap today that did, indeed, feel like it saved my life.
What seemed sad and lethargic to me as a kid is now absolutely delicious.
Before Bobby and I permanently settled in Milwaukee, we used to chase the sun North and South for his golf career. He’d work at courses up North during the summer and then we’d drive down to Miami where he’d work in the winter. (We've had more addresses than I can even keep track of. 😅)
Side note: this nomadic lifestyle was a huge reason that Tiny and Snail came to be. It was difficult for me to have any sort of traditional job because I knew we’d be packing up in 6 months. I started a blog and sold hand-painted cards on Etsy since I could do that from anywhere.
Eventually though, my wrists started to give me trouble with all of the detailed painting. That’s when Leah stepped in and said, “Why don’t we team up and start a card company that we can actually scale instead of you selling one hand-painted card at a time?” That phone conversation turned out to be life-changing. 🥹
Anyway, for years, Bobby and I were gold-medal road trippers. It was during this time that my Uncle Patrick shared a piece of wisdom that I still think about. Like our mom, Uncle Patrick is also a champion napper (I guess it runs in their family?).
Before one of our lengthy road trips, Uncle Patrick encouraged us to pull over to a rest stop and shut our eyes for 5-20 minutes. Even if we couldn’t spare hours to sleep, he firmly believed that allowing our brains and bodies to slow down for just a few minutes could make a significant impact for our safety on the road.
I recently wrote an email to him to check that my memory was correct on all this. I love what he wrote back and graciously said I could share it with all of you. :)
From Uncle Patrick:
About brief naps, your recollection is correct. When I was driving a school bus I’d often stretch out on the seats, my torso on one side of the aisle, my feet on the other side, sometimes for as few as 5 minutes. When I had time I’d often rest for 20 or 25 minutes.
Once, believe it or not, I lay down for a 2-minute nap, which kept me alert for the next hour until I could grab another 40 winks.
One of the essential tricks for me, of course, was to be sure I had set the alarm on my phone properly so that I could relax fully, knowing there was no danger I’d oversleep.
On a personal note, our grandsons, when they were little, started calling a “cat nap” a “Bobcat nap”. And that’s the term Auntie Lucille and I have been using ever since.
Why is the owner of a card company dedicating an entire newsletter to naps? I guess it’s because Leah and I believe in the power of small actions to help make us healthy and whole, individually and collectively.
I have to think this world would be a more sane, compassionate place if we all were taking 20 minute naps and not chronically sleep deprived. (The difference I feel in my day when I’ve had 8 restful hours of sleep versus an interrupted sleep? MONUMENTAL.)
I think about other small but impactful activities that can make a big difference:
- penning some heartfelt words into a card
- taking a quick walk to the mailbox and getting some fresh air
- cleaning the bathroom so the sink and mirror are sparkling again
-
eating a couple scoops of peanut butter when your body is desperate for protein
Little jolts of rest and care that ripple out into the greater world.
My hope for you (and me!) this week is that we can slow down, even if it’s just for a brief pocket of time. Shut your eyes and take a 20 minute nap – or even a 2 minute nap if that’s all the day allows for. Turn off your phone and write a card, uninterrupted. Be kind and soft with your glorious self.
Sending love and gentleness, today and always.
PS. Are you a napper? Are there other practices you have that make a huge difference for your sanity and well being? I’d love to read about them in the comments. 😘
20 comments
I was a Federal employee in an office during the 70’s-80’s. We had Musak that played on the 1/2 hr for 15 minutes. We were allowed one afternoon break. I often dropped my head on my desk at 2:45 napped and awoke at 3 to Musak, refreshed.
Does anyone remember Musak? 😃
My Dad was a napper. He told me that when he was working as an executive at a large firm that he would take a 20-minute nap at every lunch hour (of course that was back in the day when people took a real lunch “hour”). When he retired, his nap time was sacred. He would post a note on his door that he was indisposed from 1-3 and people learned not to call or bother him during those 2 hours. I must have inherited his love of naps because now that I’m retired, I love to take them, too.
I’ve been a napper most of my adult life and even made the kids go in their room in the afternoon to rest—they always took a 2 hr nap while mom got a few winks too.
I’ve sent out 10 cards since I found you guys. A note to all my neighbors that I don’t see much in these winter months in Wisconsin saying that I’m thinking about them. ❤️
I’ve been a napper most of my adult life and even made the kids go in their room in the afternoon to rest—they always took a 2 hr nap while mom got a few winks too.
I’ve sent out 10 cards since I found you guys. A note to all my neighbors that I don’t see much in these winter months in Wisconsin saying that I’m thinking about them. ❤️
I’ve been a napper most of my adult life and even made the kids go in their room in the afternoon to rest—they always took a 2 hr nap while mom got a few winks too.
I’ve sent out 10 cards since I found you guys. A note to all my neighbors that I don’t see much in these winter months in Wisconsin saying that I’m thinking about them. ❤️