Bryce...

Don't tell Broker Bryant (my husband) that I nod off occasionally. Shhhh. I'm supposed to be...

;)

TLW...ROAR!

Please remind people that it is ok to nap but please not while your body is still running. I seem to run into to many people like that lately where the brain is asleep but the body is moving!

TLW - so I was supposed to NOT tell him? Rats. I messed that one up. I need sleep. :P

James - I hear you there...actually I should warn people that napping while driving is not terribly appropriate either (that seems to be where I encounter them most).

-B

Not to worry...

I own half the company. What's he gonna do...Fire me. Yah. Right.

Shhh. Don't tell him I said that either...      :)

TLW...ROAR!

Great post, that reminds me I forgot my nap today, I quess I will have to make it up tomorrow,

If only I could reclaim all those naps I fought against taking when I was a small child...can't figure out how to explain to my kids now that they should nap while they have an opportunity!

Siesta -- waht a great time of day.  In Mexico, they have the art of the siesta down!  We should all take a siesta -- it makes one more productive and alert!  Great reminder!

20 minute Power Naps.  Most successful people take them as needed.  Some people never sleep...they nap.

Daniel- Naps are good. In the high stress, fast paced world of us photographers...ok, who am I kidding. Photography is a plush gig, and I love my job which means it's seldom difficult. But naps are nice (and good for productivity) regardless of what we do.

Leigh- Indeed...tell my son (he's the little guy in the pics).

Joan - I traveled a lot in my last job...many countries understand the value of an afternoon snooze. In fact we are a bit backwards in our suspicion of it. Previously I was a corporate manager at a very progressive Internet company...no naps for us though.

Ardell - Exactly. Though I don't know I'd forgo too much sleep. That can actually lead to psychosis in extreme cases!  Recent research suggests that the four stages of sleep impact areas of brain function differently (creativity, analytical ability etc) so that one might want to tailer nap length to recharge a particular area or ability. Interesting!

-B

Hi Bryce,

I read about this last week on Yahoo.  You know that in central America "Siestas" are the norm and there are less heart attacks and strokes in Central America than there is in the U.S.!

This is absolutely my most favorite blog of the day!  

I am so happy to read a post about one of my favorite things.  I just finished reading Linda's post on her favorite food .  I need the nap!!!  Sleep tight!

Just fifteen minutes before the kids get off the bus, every once in a while.   Those cat naps make me a better mother and person! 

We have an overstuffed couch in our home office. At precisely 1pm every day, Derek (my hubby) tells me, "Honey. Corporate called. I need to meet with them." He then turns off the lights and crashes on the couch for about 30-45 minutes. When he wakes up - it's like a new morning for him... all refreshed and alive! Now, me, on the other hand ... If I so much as nod off accidentally while drooling on my keyboard, er, I mean "working" - I can never recover - I am a zombie for the rest of the day.

Because of my schedule, I'm not able to nap till later in the day. That usually happens at 5pm. Then I can to till late evening.

Much of the rest of the world knows how to take a nap. It's time for America to wake up and learn how to sleep! 

Napping is an art and some of us have had to learn it, but I'm getting there.  Good post.

I'll try to not nap while I am driving.

Bryce...I was always against napping unless I fell asleep on the couch on the weekend during the day. I took a nap today actually, for 25 minutes, from 3:30 until 3:55 pm today.....   sure, I am getting older.... and my body is not use to taking naps. But I am also staying up late at nights also....  I need to get into a schedule. Overall...great post. I read something about this about 3 months ago here on AR... just another good reminder.

George- no doubt...of course they have all those drug cartels to balance things ok. Kidding. Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any other photo questions. :)

Joanne - Glad you enjoyed it...then again, who doesn't enjoy a quick snooze? It really makes a difference.

Virginia - That's a good point...having adequate rest helps us all handle stress (i.e. life) better.

Mariana - Hilarious! :)

John - Great quote; "America needs to wake up and go to sleep!" Ha!

Judi - Keep practicing...I'll practice for you. ;)

Vicky - Probably for the best. Also...it'll cut down on your insurance! *wink*

Jeff - Right, this certainly isn't new info. I've been reading about napping for years. It just hasn't caught on much (at least in my experience). :)

Cheers, -B

Bryce,..... don't get me wrong. Again, this was a good topic to bring up.... and something that I need to incorporate once in a blue moon. I just remember reading it once before on here.... thanks for sharing.

Bryce - Good article. Glad you brought it to our attention. I used to take naps, at least on the weekend but haven't for along time. When the kids were young we grabbed a nap whenever possible, since sleeping all night was impossible. There are companies, as you probably know, that have nap rooms, and I know a number of people who nap regularly. as you point out, forgoing sleep (normally 8 hours is recommended) is not a good idea in the long term for the significant impact on body chemistry and biorhythms.

Had to laugh at James' comment - reminds me of the comment about someone with the lights on but no one home. :)

Thanks for sharing - intriguing topic.

Jeff

Jeff B -  No worries whatsoever. I agree! Not new info, but still a worthwhile reminder. :)

Jeff D - Naps are life saving when the little ones are young. Indeed, that's often the only sleep one gets. Interestingly enough there are a category of people who need very little sleep...sometimes just an hour a night. I am not one of those! :P

I think nap time should still be a madatory practice.  I keep trying to explain to my 2 and a half year old that one day she will come to appreciate nap time.

Naos are great, but I have a problem napping on demand.

Always have. I can nap great when I am not planning to though!

Ginger

I was never a graceful napper as a child, even though I spent a good portion of my growing-up years in countries where siestas were considered a given. I still rarely nap, though when I do I now appreciate it much more (unless I overdo it-over about 30 minutes and I'm useless)! I do think that the southern European countries and Latin countires probably do have the right idea, but it goes so against the current American work ethic to admit it might be the better way to go!

Bryce, this is a great reminder for me because I am feeling overworked!  Now I just need to make time for a nap.

I am a big proponent of the siesta but when I take one nap, I get caught in something I call the "nap trap" and it screws my body up big time.  It seems like I need a nap every day until I can "catch up" - usually the weekend after.

I schedule appointments in the afternoon just so I don't take a nap!

Bryce, I know for a fact I'm sleep deprived, should go to bed sooner, or get up later, or even take a nap. I tell myself that my body is used to it, but I know that's a lie. Thanks for reminding me! 

Great advice!  I am an accomplished power-napper, thank you.

Naps are awesome!  My only problem is too many of them tend to go over 90 minutes....

I'm a big fan of naps and have been since college, as a swimmer with 3:30 practice I would make sure my class schedule allowed for a 15 min snooze before practice.  As a commuter into NYC (2.5 hours each way) early in my previous years nap time was 5PM - I arrived home relaxed and refreshes (my family might question relaxed).  Naps have been making the news with recently researched health benefits http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/12/naps.heart.ap/index.html  and several companies have installed nap times.  My new career gives me the ability to sneak a nap in when really needed - with no questions asked, I just try to get home to the couch before I snooze and snore.

I had an alarm clock installed under my desk so I can tuck under there and take a snooze.... then no one sees I'm sleeping and I don't get in trouble...

oh wait - that's not me, that's George Costanza

just remember - there's a difference in a power nap and a real nap... if you end up drooling on your listing files, how will you explain it to the client when you need something resigned??

Geez...

How am I supposed to keep a secret when the moderators throw stars at you? SVW (smiling very wide)

Congrats on the star. You're on a 'raining star roll'    :)

TLW...ROAR!

When I lived in Taiwan for a year, everyone got to go home in the middle of the day for lunch and a nap, which is a 2 hour period when everything comes to a halt. Naps are customary in most countries of the Pacific Rim, and surprise, they are some of the most economically productive countries on earth.

Brian: Has it worked? If you manage to convince her tell me how! :)

Ginger:True for many folks. I find it only works well for me if I observe a regular time.

Beth: Right, a lot of folks have an ideal length, if they pass it they are in a deeper phase and may have trouble waking up.

Patricia: Just think of it as part of work.

Renee: Interesting turn about. :)

Jeff: Keep in mind that if you need an alarm clock to drag you out of bed in the morning you are probably not getting enough sleep. Its a simple question that tells us a lot about how well we are treating ourselves to the rest we need.

Stefan: You're most welcome. :)

Kaushik: Most people have an ideal time...90 minutes is long for most.

Tom: Thanks for the link. :)

David: Just tell them those were the tears from the other party thanks to your 'take no prinsoner' price negotiations. ;)

TLW: LOL, thanks...I had 7 out of 8 featured but I think I lost my mojo. :P

Irene: And the food is pretty good too. ;)