In looking at animal photos of the world on Facebook, I was reminded of the time I visited Diyabubula, Sri Lanka, the hideaway that my now deceased friend Laki Senanayake, a famous artist and sculptor, carved out of rock and jungle.
Diyabubula was a place to do nothing but look at birds and at sculptures Laki had made, or converse about lofty ideas and in mid-day, take naps to beat the heat.
Having to use the loo during my Diyabubula nap, I saw a bunch of monkeys playing in the pond near the sleeping area. I watched them, mesmerized, as they
swung on vines and dropped down into the water. The monkeys used their tails to flip water at each other. What fun! This was not a zoo, it was real life in the jungle!
Of course there was no nap for me after that. My only regret was that I didn’t get any photos of their antics. I just didn’t want to miss anything by grabbing my
camera.
I remember that when I visited my best friend in Peru. The main meal was at 2P.M. After that was siesta, where we would either nap or just relax until late afternoon.
It was time to quietly enjoy the family.
Harvard researchers have found that 15–30 minute naps can improve productivity and job performance. They also concluded that napping should be mandatory for some employees, such as pilots, truck drivers, and night shift laborers.
Spain is serious about siestas. Some stores close for a siesta. It has been said that there are many benefits to incorporating a siesta into your daily routine.
Short naps may help you to feel more rested and productive.
What other countries encourage naps for adults? Spain with their Siesta, Italy’s Riposo, Japan’s Inemuri, Iceland’s Úti, China’s Wũshuì, Greece’s Messimeri. Studies
in Greece suggest that people who nap may have a lower risk of heart attacks.
People in warm countries usually head indoors for their nap but Iceland and Scandinavian countries nap outdoors, even with their babies as they feel cold air
helps to build healthy lungs.
I took a copy-editing job at a place that produced junk mail. After having a flexible workday for several decades when I was self-employed, I found it difficult to make it through an eight-hour day, so I would eat lunch in my car and take a Power Nap. I got so good at it that I could fall into a deep sleep for three minutes. I even dreamt during those short power naps. But alas, the job wasn’t for me, so when an opportunity came up to go to the Maldives on assignment for Sport Diver Magazine, I jumped on it and said “Adios” to that super boring job.
My friend Mabel and her husband Bart care for their grandchildren at times during the week. The two-year old boy has too much energy to nap but when he finally settles down and naps, he wakes up in a good mood. Their four-year old granddaughter is finished with naps, too busy for them. Husband Bart dozes off for 30 minutes each afternoon. Like clockwork. Mabel takes a snooze if she’s up way too early in the morning.
Napping for adults can improve alertness, improve one’s mood and memory, improve reaction time, reduce stress, can improve creativity and improve brain health by drawing connections between what you’ve learned.
It’s best to nap no more than 20-30 minutes. Do so in early afternoon so as not to disrupt sleeping at night. Currently, I take a “lie down” just to rest my body.
Rarely do I fall asleep. I might doze off for a minute but no long afternoon naps.
What’s a girl to do?…it’s going on 3P.M. It’s late! I’d better go take my Messimeri!
Lucy Llewellyn Byard welcomes comments and shares. To contact her, email lucywgtd@gmail.com
