Loving/ Needing an afternoon nap

grandtanteJE65

To my mind one of the benefits of retirement is that we can take a nap when we feel like it, or get up, drink coffee, then decide it was a mistake, and go back to bed for a longer or shorter sleep.

And Bea, I am sorry to hear about your brother, I have found that having terminally ill family members made me so tired that I would gladly have crawled back into my bed in the morning instead of making it! Be kind to yourself, during this trying and hard time.

Yes it’s very tiring more like exhausting when close family terminal and need to recharge - I think the naps help but feel guilty when I think my brother can’t move and here I am going to lie on bed when I can but fatigue starts in shoulders and down back ..

I never used to nap in the afternoon, but then developed an overwhelming feeling that I needed to every day. Didn’t think anything of it as my mum had always napped in the afternoon. Happened to mention it to my doctor during a checkup and a blood test revealed an underactive thyroid. Now, with medication, I no longer need to nap.

It won't do you any harm at all. Think of it as recharging your batteries.

I love an after lunch nap, I usually start reading and fall asleep after a page or two.

I am self employed and structure my work and appointments round my nap time.

WIth me it isnt a question of Will I nap or not-

it just happens !

Just enjoy it!

I nearly always have an afternoon nap since retiring. I am 78 and worked until I was 70. I find an afternoon nap helps me to sleep better at night. I go to bed before 10.30 pm. My husband sleeps for about 3 hours every afternoon but goes to bed much later than I do.

I can only nap during the day when I’m ill, I wish I could as you all make it sound lovely!

To my mind one of the benefits of retirement is that we can take a nap when we feel like it, or get up, drink coffee, then decide it was a mistake, and go back to bed for a longer or shorter sleep.

And Bea, I am sorry to hear about your brother, I have found that having terminally ill family members made me so tired that I would gladly have crawled back into my bed in the morning instead of making it! Be kind to yourself, during this trying and hard time.

Lately I've been falling asleep on an evening in front of the TV, never done this before last few months. Thing is when I wake up it takes me a couple of minutes to 'come round' and realise where I am etc. I think I must sleep really deeply when this happens I really feel quite strange when I wake up. Anybody else like this?

I don’t get much sleep at night. My dh , best friend and her dh sit down and almost straight away are asleep. I wish I knew their secret. 🤫

I hate a nap, I always feel rough when I wake up. Mind you when you open the curtains in the morning and it's yet another grey, dreary day I do feel I just want to curl up and hibernate.

Greyduster

I can’t sleep during the day, no matter how tired I am - never have been able to. Can’t sleep in a car either. I sometimes think that if I could have an afternoon catnap, I wouldn’t be falling asleep after tea!

Is this not a bit contradictive Greyduster, you are sleeping in the day time, after tea is still day time, or was it a deliberate joke?

74 As it happens these days, I don’t often sleep before 1am and wake about 8am. Going to sleep earlier means waking up early. If I napped during the day I wouldn’t sleep during the dark hours. I try to keep active since stopping my full time job four years ago by walking at least 6,000 steps each day, joining Pilates, slow gym and stretching classes nearly every morning but never enough for a full night’s sleep. It doesn’t bother me but I am envious of those that sleep soundly for 8 hours.

Since I don’t sleep well at night, I will often have a zizz in the afternoon, and don’t feel in the least guilty about it. I will usually set my phone alarm for a max of about 45 minutes - I don’t want to go into a very deep sleep.

Before anyone says it, how well I sleep at night has absolutely nothing to do with having had an afternoon nap, or not.

Same for me.
I always sleep for too long and wake up groggy.

As long as it doesn't affect sleep
at night, enjoy. I love naps but mine can prololong into a 2 hour deep sleep and then the night is problematic.

I try to avoid DH having a nap, he always wake up grouchy if he sleeps in the day. It certainly doesn't refresh him.

I've always loved a nap just didn't seem to get much opportunity until I retired. If I'm busy I don't need a nap, if I've done housework/shopping or whatever and I'm relaxing in the afternoon a nap seems ideal.

Love a “nana” nap…💤

I have a routine for sleeping which never involves daytime naps unless I’m ill. I prefer everyday to be different anyway so couldn’t cope with doing certain things at certain times. I usually go to bed no later than 10.30 and stay there until 8am. I don’t get up in the night except for bathroom visits and don’t get up before 8 unless there’s a reason. Yes this is a routine but only at night.

Now and again I nap very briefly after lunch! If I’ve had a busy few days followed by a quiet day then I will slide a 20 minute nap in early afternoon. It refreshes me and even though it isn’t long when I wake I feel I’ve had sound ‘quality’ sleep and definitely feel re-energized. I’ve been very busy for the past four days with no opportunity to nap, and at 9 pm last night I felt exhausted so was in bed before 9.30 pm. Just proves my body needs the odd afternoon nap through the week!

I’m 68 never nap in the day. Have never needed to. As others say your life to live how you want.

I love an afternoon nap and feel so much better for one. I still work full time - so it is an occasional treat for me. I also have an acquaintance who works from home and actively schedules in a nap during her lunch break (in bed, curtains drawn, electric blanket pre-heated). I think different people do have very different sleep requirements and you have to listen to what your body is telling you.

It's apparently a more natural way for our bodies.
I suspect it was done away with for working reasons.

I couldn't exist without a nap. I have been napping since I worked as an au pair in France 49 years ago. I remember then thinking how civilised and wonderful it was - just half an hour after lunch. Now I burst out of bed in the morning and then sag in the afternoon. Have some zizzzzzes and burst awake raring to go again. I feel as though I am blessed with this incredible energy and always after a nap. You do what your body tells you to do and don't listen to those people who look down their nose and say "Oh, I never need a nap" as though it is something that inferior people do. All the high energy people I know have cat naps. And don't lie awake twiddling your thumbs either, or counting sheep. If your body doesn't need sleep at night, get up and do something positive! I've ironed at 3a.m. Yay, I say thumbs up to the cat nap. So Bea65, just do it. If it makes you feel better then that's a plus isn't it regardless of the time. I find I am sleeping more (I'm 69), but my general energy levels haven't subsided yet.