My dog Hurley naps a lot. Like a lot a lot. She gets at least 4-5 good ones in every day. I’m not saying I nap that often or that you should nap that often, but I do think our culture seriously neglects the simple pleasure of a good nap.
One of my first memories occurred when I was around 3 or 4. I was at my grandparents’ house playing in the living room when my grandpa got up and announced that he was going upstairs to take a nap. I laughed at him and called him silly. I hated having to take naps and I couldn’t understand why an adult would ever do such a thing unforced. In hindsight, my grandpa was a genius.
Adulthood comes with a lot of responsibilities and a lot of commitments. Down time is rare and if you’re like me, you waste it up in your head thinking about what you need to do next. Hurley doesn’t do that. She knows when it’s time to calm down, stretch out, curl up, let out a heavy sigh, and snooze. So take the cue and treat yourself to a nice guilt-free nap every once in awhile. I bet you’ve earned it.