When Puttachi was little, my day was tough. Everything that came with being a full-time carer of a little child, and along with it, managing a house with all the cooking and cleaning and other things that go with it. By afternoon, I would be ready to drop. It used to be okay when Puttachi had naps, for I would crash alongside her. But she gave up naps very early, just after she turned three.
It was at this time that she started school, and driving her up and down, and squeezing in walks and chores and cooking and me-time in the available 2.5 hours when she was in school was tiring in itself. So, after she came back and ate, she would start playing, and I would be on the verge of collapse.
It was then that I accidentally discovered the power nap. There was no question of taking long naps when Puttachi was awake and mobile. So, I used to just lie down next to her on the bed when she was playing, and I would fall asleep. Within minutes, Puttachi would shake me awake, and I would find myself so refreshed that it was unbelievable. The refreshment definitely did not seem proportional to the time I actually slept. After a few times, I decided to make the falling asleep intentional. I set an alarm, and told Puttachi not to move from my side, and not to disturb me until the alarm rang. Of course, I was (still am) fortunate that Puttachi did as she was told, and is very empathetic too, so it worked. The alarm would be for 12 min, out of which I would actually sleep for 10 min, but that was enough to last me the rest of the day!
10 minutes - like an instant battery charger! I still do this. In fact, Puttachi herself sometimes looks at me and orders me to take a nap. She even sets the alarm for me. And sometimes, if I haven't been able to catch a nap, S can make that out by the way I walk and talk in the evening that I haven't had a nap!
I don't need the nap every day, and this kind of intense nap doesn't come easily if I lie down when I am not too tired. I have to be really very tired - it is then that it works best.
If you haven't tried this, try and see if it works for you. I'll accept your thanks later.
It was at this time that she started school, and driving her up and down, and squeezing in walks and chores and cooking and me-time in the available 2.5 hours when she was in school was tiring in itself. So, after she came back and ate, she would start playing, and I would be on the verge of collapse.
It was then that I accidentally discovered the power nap. There was no question of taking long naps when Puttachi was awake and mobile. So, I used to just lie down next to her on the bed when she was playing, and I would fall asleep. Within minutes, Puttachi would shake me awake, and I would find myself so refreshed that it was unbelievable. The refreshment definitely did not seem proportional to the time I actually slept. After a few times, I decided to make the falling asleep intentional. I set an alarm, and told Puttachi not to move from my side, and not to disturb me until the alarm rang. Of course, I was (still am) fortunate that Puttachi did as she was told, and is very empathetic too, so it worked. The alarm would be for 12 min, out of which I would actually sleep for 10 min, but that was enough to last me the rest of the day!
10 minutes - like an instant battery charger! I still do this. In fact, Puttachi herself sometimes looks at me and orders me to take a nap. She even sets the alarm for me. And sometimes, if I haven't been able to catch a nap, S can make that out by the way I walk and talk in the evening that I haven't had a nap!
I don't need the nap every day, and this kind of intense nap doesn't come easily if I lie down when I am not too tired. I have to be really very tired - it is then that it works best.
If you haven't tried this, try and see if it works for you. I'll accept your thanks later.
6 comments:
Yes, I am a firm believer of power naps too!
Ahh... tell ME about power naps :D
I have tried, it doesnt work for me. :( I get a headache. thanks cancelled :P
I love naps, power or otherwise... but don't have this luxury at work...
when I used to go home for lunch, I'd find time to nap for exactly 8 min... awesome!
I get headaches too, the unfortunate ones :-(
-Chaitanya
Charu, great, huh?
Peevee, heh heh :)
PP, Chaitanya, that's really unfortunate.
Austere - WOW. luxury.
Post a Comment