#Naps July 23

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In 2020 some Coach4aday posts will feature lessons learned by completing, planning, and experiencing 30 day challenges. The challenges include physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.

Naps

When I was working taking a NAP was limited to the weekends and mostly on Sundays. Today retired and without a regular work schedule, a NAP is almost a daily occurrence.

I have written before about Jim Gane, one of my retired friends who bestowed upon himself the title Director of NAPPING.

From February to November I usually walk 18 holes on the golf course. Depending on the month we tee off early. For July we get to the course at 6:30 a.m. and tee off be 6:45 a.m. The majority of my golfing colleagues are also retired. The topic of NAPS comes up often and each one of them swears by our mid=afternoon siesta.

I am usually in bed before 9:00 p.m.. I must confess in the winter months it often before 8:30 a.m. I get up early (anywhere from 5:00-5:15 a.m.) and do not use an alarm clock. This morning is was 4:45 a.m.

My first few months of retirement I began to think of my NAPS as a temporary indulgence. I soon found out that what I was doing was getting connected to my circadian rhythm. Most of the research I have done states that our circadian rhythm will change as we get older.

I cannot recall the book but I read the ideal time to take a NAP should adhere roughly to a formula. To begin calculating this formula determine what time do you wake up and go to bed? For me wake up is (approximately 5:00 a.m) and retiring for the night is (9:00 p.m.). You take that total time which for me would be 16 hours (5 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.-16 hours) and find the mid-point. For me my midpoint is 8 hours. So my ideal time for for a NAP is 1:00 p.m.

That is pretty much the time I am headed off to doze each afternoon.

Here is a link to the Scientific Guide to NAPPING

During the month of June I completed a 30 Day Challenge of watching a YouTube Video every day. I posted one below I watched on Sleep is your Superpower by Matt Walker

I strongly suggest that you don’t NAP on the idea that NAPPING is good for you.

Tags: 30 Day Challenge, Circadian Rhythm, Director of Napping, Jim Gane, Matt Walker, Nap, Napping, Retirees Napping, Scientific Guide to Napping, Sleep Superpowers, YouTube