I don’t know what’s up with me, but I’m absolutely exhausted today. Maybe it’s the weather or my new workout routine that’s making me extra tired? All I know is that I needed to take a power nap to wake up this afternoon, which says something because I hate naps.
I rarely ever nap because I never wake up feeling better/more awake after one. Most of the time, I feel worse and usually a little bit cranky. I’d rather power through my tiredness with caffeine, fresh air, or exercise than nap. I know some people swear by them, but I’m just not a fan of naps.
Lunch
This morning, I went into NuVal for a few hours, so I packed a lunch to take with me: half of an Apple Omelet and some baked sweet potato wedges.
Wow, that lunch looks really sad, but I swear it tasted great!
Snack
After my time at NuVal, I headed home to get some studying done for NASM. I made myself a snack of sunflower butter, banana slices, and chia seeds on a whole wheat wrap to eat while I studied.
I also made myself a mug of coffee with soy milk.
And then I got to work!
About 20 minutes passed before I started to feel really tired. I ended up eating a couple of cookies thinking more food and/or sugar would help wake me up. No luck.
At this point, I was really struggling to stay awake. I had finished almost my entire mug of coffee, so I figured if I slept for a little while, maybe the caffeine would kick in right before I woke up, so maybe a nap would work in my favor today. Well, it worked because I feel a zillion times better now! Twenty-minute power nap + 8 ounces of coffee = good as new!
What do you think about naps? Love ”˜em or hate ”˜em?
125 Comments
I love naps! I used to nap in-between classes all the time back in college. I miss that!
Not much of a napper at all… I really dislike them for the most part, as I nearly always feel disoriented and worse upon waking up, then my night’s sleep is thrown off. However, like you, I have felt totally exhausted while trying to work most of this week, and wished I could nap! Just curious–have you had your iron level checked recently? I have to get my rechecked, as I have dealt with anemia for years now.
I haven’t, but my hair isn’t falling out anymore! 🙂
@Tina:
Oh, good news about your hair at least!!
My husband is the king of the power nap – 20 minutes and he’s up, refreshed and ready to go. I can’t even fall asleep in 20 minutes! My naps usually end up being about 2 hours long and I always wake up feeling sluggish. I try to avoid them if I can.
i have found that if I set my alarm for 20 minutes am ok. even if I don’t fall asleep, I rested and that usually helps. anything longer than 20 minutes makes me really spaced out and grumpy. Hate that feeling!
LOVE, but only if I have plenty of time to sleep until I wake up (and NOT to an alarm!)
i could REALLY do with a nap today…not on the agenda though- work then office holiday party…ugh…me need sleep
Today is national cupcake day! just an fyi incase you didn’t already know… http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/12/15/breakfast-buffet-national-cupcakes-day/?hpt=ea_mid
@Erin G: I need to celebrate! 🙂
I love naps but can’t remember the last time I took one! If I’m feeling really tired I always crave sugar to keep me awake and I’d rather take a nap than over-eat! It reminds me of the HALT technique! Do you know it?
i go back and forth with naps. in high school i would nap almost every day after school and my mom would always wake me up so abruptly. i used to tell her i hated the sound of her voice (ahh such a meanie!). in college my roommate and i would take like 4 hours naps ALL the time. now, i hate them, unless they are on a comfy couch after a long run. i always feel groggy and sickly
I totally agree about naps. I have a hard time shutting down in the middle of the day, even if I’m tired. Unless it’s rainy and gloomy or super cold and I’m feeling down about something, I power through. I will say, though, that the couch, the cookies, and the dog on your lap all look very appealing!
I feel the same way about naps- it’s a bitter-sweet relationship… Even if I’m exhasuted, I try my best not to nap because I wake up feeling worse than I did before :Z Crabby McCrabster!
I wish i could be a napper – but typically, unless I am super super sick, I just can’t fall asleep during the day, even if I’m exhausted!
I always have such a guilt complex when I nap, like I should be doing something more productive. Also naps bring me back to my mono days when I HAD to nap!
@Julia: Me too! I feel like I can never fully enjoy them.
Naps make me feel worse too..I thought I was just odd lol
I never used to be a napper, but when I started working third shift after college, naps became my new best friend!
I hate naps too! Same reasons as you. Wake up feeling more tired and cranky. But there are times when they are necessary.
~And
PS. Still thinking, to use up your cranberries, bake cookies? I know not the healthiest options. LoL. My sister makes these awesome white chocolate cranberry cookies every year for Christmas. Major yum.
I’m a bit neurotic about rest/naps. I don’t even like to sit down for dinner at night until all the “work” and “tasks” are DONE. Once my butt eventually hits the couch (or my head hits the pillow), I relax more knowing everything is done.
I’m pregnant, so the more naps the better! I can never seem to sleep at night and end up exhausted during the day.