National Napping Day!

Alex_Alumni

Before the mid afternoon is upon us, we thought we’d share National Napping Day’s history with the community 😊 This commemorative day was established in 1999, but what’s to celebrate about a nap? 

While some modern cultures incorporate a nap into their day, many do not. 

Napping Day encourages people all over the world to remember the benefits of youth. Why not take a little time out of the day for a much-needed rest! 

History of National Napping Day 

This history of napping is an age-old tradition. In certain cultures, napping was something that almost everyone would do in mid-afternoon. The Spanish siesta happens right after the afternoon meal. 

In fact, in the Mediterranean, napping is pretty much standard practice. Italians call naps the 'riposo pisolini', meaning “rest naps”. 

So is it laziness? Not at all! It’s just a different way of living. 

In part, the need for the nap relates to the hottest hours of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Especially before air conditioning, it only made sense to take a brief break at that point.  

Many health professionals and researchers have written about the notable benefits of taking a nap in the afternoon. Research points to a significant reduction in the risk of heart attacks for regular afternoon nappers.  

Does that mean those who take naps might be saving their own lives? It’s quite possible! 

Why not take a power nap this afternoon to celebrate?  

After the afternoon meal is the perfect time because the body is spending a lot of energy digesting food. In the long run, a nap can help a person feel better and more energised for the rest of the day. 

 

Get Inspired by Famous Nappers (Taken from Days of the Year) 

Salvador Dali: This eccentric artist from Spain worked hard to invent the micro-nap. He would intentionally fall asleep sitting up, with a large key in his hand which was poised over a metal plate or bowl. As he fell asleep, the key would fall and make noise, waking him up to get to work again–feeling much restored and revived. 

Eleanor Roosevelt: The wife of the 32nd president of the United States would often take a short nap before she was to give a public speech, which gave her a little energy boost to greet her adoring crowds. 

Napoleon Buonaparte: As a military genius, Napoleon was known for going long periods without sleeping and then simply falling asleep at will, even in the middle of the battlefield. 

Leonardo Da Vinci: This famous artist went so far as to replace his normal sleep and, instead, taking a 15-minute nap every 4 hours, which is now called “polyphasic sleeping”. 

Margaret Thatcher: With the nickname “The Iron Lady”, it’s no surprise that this British Prime Minister only slept for 4 hours each night. However, she was known to regularly schedule a 1 hour nap in the afternoon. 

Do you enjoy a good nap? Let us know in the comments

66Mustang

Thanks for this interesting piece @Alex_Scope

I don't know anyone else that does this but I often take a nap when I am bored. Then when I wake up I feel fresh and want to do things.

janer1967

I'm always napping I call them my mummy moments or nana naps 

I don't intentionally have a nap it just happens most often after tea or afternoon 

I watch something on TV see the start and then wake up when the final credits come up 

Hannah_Alumni

I have days where I nap during lunch, it can be a catch 22 if you need longer but know you won't sleep at night. I loved having a siesta when I had holidays in Spain

Sandy_123

I don't tend to nap because if I did it last hours then minutes, once was 6 hours. So I don't do it, plus it always made me feel worse

durhamjaide2001

You learn something new every day on here.