With the crazy pace that most of us keep these days, I’ve
found that it is very important to take a break and check out for a while. Now
I’m not talking about a Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze type break, I was thinking
more along the lines of, well, taking a nap.
Science has proven time and time again that sleep is very
important to the human mind, body and soul. I’m not one to argue with science,
I’m usually pretty happy to oblige science. I also believe in gravity, that the
world is round and that polar bears can run 25 mph and jump 6 feet in the air
(It’s true, I looked it up).
I apply the science of napping a few days a week, with the
most important one being the afternoon nap on one of my days off. Timing needs
to be right, approximately 1:00 pm –
1:30 pm is start time. Duration is important as well, naps need to run between
20 and 40 minutes at the most. Other than that you are just sleeping and
wasting time. Location is another issue.
Naps should be taken on a couch, or in a Lazy Boy lounger as opposed to a bed.
Again, if you are laying down in bed you are being lazy and just sleeping.
Napping is different than sleeping because there is still a
conscious part of your mind still aware of what is going on around you. That
way if the doorbell of phone rings while
you are napping, you simply ignore it, you have made a conscious decision and
are not at the will of the unconscious. Still a modicum of control.
A few years ago I had the perfect nap. A friend and I had
gone to Prescott to camp. It was rainy, cool, autumn Monday. Weekdays are great
days to go off on adventures because generally you have most of the place to
yourself, but I digress.
We got to the campground, unloaded the truck and set up
camp. It was cool, windy and a dark day. After settling in we took a walk
around the lake. We had just about finished when it started to lightly rain, so
we picked up the pace and returned to camp. By then the rain was coming down
pretty good, with the temperature dropping some more. Darn right chilly by
then.
My friend decided to take a short drive to town to pick up
some more supplies. I declined, it was a Monday, my first day off, and I was
worn out.
He took off and I crawled into my sleeping bag, The front of
the tent was open, the rain was hitting the tent as I drifted off into a nap.
One of the best naps I’ve ever had…so good I had to write it down. There’s
nothing like being in a warm sleeping bay, rain drizzling down, wind blowing,
and drifting off for a nice respite.
It’s nap time….see you later.
