I know what you might be thinking:  “Naps for ME?  I don’t think that’s possible!”  As a mother of four children who has taken a nap just about every day for the past fifteen years, I understand I am an anomaly.  It has taken me awhile to get this article written because I have had to work around my naps, but my hope is that by the time you finish reading this, you will be committed to and equipped with information for getting more sleep (or simply for getting more time to yourself).

As a disclaimer, I recognize that napping is virtually impossible for some people.  For those of you who may be in extremely challenging circumstances—with hardly a minute of unclaimed time—I hope that the ideas here will offer some ways to take care of yourselves and get the rest you deserve.  You are the ones who probably need naps the most!  For others who get plenty of sleep at night but might want some “think time” during the day, or for those who are exhausted and desperately need more time to nod off, this is the article for you!  Taking care of our physical and mental selves is an investment in our families, and though it will take a little creativity and commitment, it will pay off.

Are you ready?  Let the naptime training begin!

First, Some Basic Napping Ideas:

(1) Mothers need rest.  According to the experts, eight and a half hours is the ideal amount.  If you can get it all at once, great!  If not, naps are the solution!  We are “on” 24/7, and although it would be nice if we didn’t need to refuel, that is not the case.  Cars need gas, batteries need to be charged, and all human beings need sufficient rest.  Yes, that includes you. 

(2) Biologically, we were made to take an afternoon nap.  If you don’t believe me, see this article. Some people really do not like to sleep during the day, which is absolutely fine, but for those of us who do, it is perfectly acceptable.  Many cultures encourage afternoon rests, but here in the States it is sometimes seen as a weakness if a mother takes a nap.  Let them call us weak.  We can run ourselves into the ground and turn into the grumpiest of women, or we can rest when we are tired and reap the benefits of happiness and good health.  I choose rest.  Are you with me?

(3)  Napping is a proven health benefit.  A recent study found that women who napped at least three times per week for an average of 30 minutes had a 37 percent lower coronary mortality risk than those who took no naps.  In English?  You’re much less likely to die of heart problems if you become a regular napper.  Another study by NASA showed that a nap of 26 minutes can boost performance by as much as 34 percent.  It may seem as though we will fall behind if we take time to rest, but the statistics show (and I’ll confirm from experience) that we actually become more productive. Write these facts down and whip them out if a nap-critic gives you a sidelong glance!

(4) A mother loses about 350 hours of sleep at night over her baby's first year.  Does that number shock anyone else?  Okay, so I have had four children.  That makes 1400 hours of lost sleep—and that is just for one year of each of their lives!  Add on the sleepless nights of pregnancy, months with teething babies, bouts of the stomach flu, bed-wetting, nightmares, and sleep-walkers, and it is quite amazing that mothers sleep at all.  Taking naps is not stealing time away from our families.  It is making up for all the hours we have sacrificed--and don’t you think it’s fair if we charge a little interest?  Extra naps for everybody—on the house!