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Do you have an afternoon nap?

(75 Posts)
mrsmopp Fri 09-Feb-18 14:53:46

I usually have a good nights sleep, but around 3pm I start feeling very tired. Do you take a nap if that happens? I usually go and do something else to keep myself going. I'm sure if I had a nap I would probably be awake half the night.
I'm 74.

Auntieflo Fri 09-Feb-18 18:38:43

Yes I do nap during the afternoon. If I am out though, I can manage without, but at home, we both nap mid afternoon, wake refreshed, and still manage a good sleep at night.

BBbevan Fri 09-Feb-18 18:45:59

Absolutely. When the weather is fine, as today , it is outside jobs. We went back out for an hour or so after lunch. Then it was back in, cup of tea, light the fire and instant sleep. Do it in the summer also, minus the fire ?

Alima Fri 09-Feb-18 18:55:18

Generally go off for ‘a read’ after lunch which very often turns into a bit of a kip. Anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It doesn’t prevent me getting to sleep at night, probably because whatever time I go to bed (10 ish) I wake up at stupid o’clock,(4-5 am).

Elizabeth1 Fri 09-Feb-18 21:44:05

I love a cat nap in the afternoon with a cosy blanket over me. Now if/when I’m adventurous occasionally I’ll have a glass of red with my lunch. I find there’s nothing better than slipping between the duvet and the sheet and then I’m sonked for an hour.

MargaretX Fri 09-Feb-18 21:58:34

I started when I was first pregnant and at home and have continued. I taught evenings for 30 years at night schools and to do that you need to have a power nap to be
bright eyed and positive facing students wo have a 9 hours working day behind them.
Now many years retired I really love it.

MargaretX Fri 09-Feb-18 21:59:48

It is really time we had an editing facility on GN!

merlotgran Fri 09-Feb-18 23:20:12

I love my afternoon nap - usually around 3pm after a cuppa. We both work outside weather permitting and although we stop for lunch I still have housework to do so it recharges my batteries.

loopyloo Sat 10-Feb-18 09:20:07

When I was at work, doing 13 hour days, in half hour breaks, I could eat for 10 mins sleep for 15 and have 5 mins to get back to work. Now I can easily nod off after lunch and sleep well at night too.
It's power napping.

Greciangirl Sat 10-Feb-18 09:27:52

I have a lie down most afternoons if I'm not looking after dgs. Although I don't usually get of to sleep I find it restful just to close my eyes and rest my aching back.

Also, it's a lot more comfortable than my armchair. Peaceful too.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 10-Feb-18 09:36:23

I try not to nap as I think that I wouldn't sleep too well at night otherwise. However, (perhaps as a long-term side-effect of chemo) I do sometimes get very tired and go to bed at 9.30 instead of 11 pm which annoys me as it tends to happen when there's something good on the telly and I can't tape things. What an exciting life I lead!

radicalnan Sat 10-Feb-18 09:42:48

My power naps are not working despite daily practise.

SillyNanny321 Sat 10-Feb-18 09:59:25

Do not like 'power napping' though sometimes do drop off while book reading after lunch if I am home. Then feel guilty for the rest of the day as I have wasted the time napping. When I am out 3 days a week at my voluntary work I do not feel the need for a nap. Is it something to do with a full stomach after lunch as I do not have lunch on the Volunteering days?

peaches50 Sat 10-Feb-18 09:59:49

yes, if I'm tired feet up, cozy wrap and snuggle. NEVER feel guilty - worked every day since I was 16 and feel I can and should do whatever I want and whenever now I'm retired (2nd childhood!). DH also has a regular pm zzzz, sometimes keeps us awake at night. We just get up have a hot drink maybe watch a bit of TV or read and go back to bed when we are sleepy. but regularity is so boring isn't it?

Tessa101 Sat 10-Feb-18 10:08:53

If I had a power nap I wake up feeling really groggy and can’t shift the feeling for hours so I don’t nap because of that.

Nanny41 Sat 10-Feb-18 10:17:51

I dont sleep in the afternoon simply because if I did I wouldnt sleep at night, however a few weeks ago I had an eye infection which made my eyes feel really tired, and then it was lovely to have an afternoon sleep, and I even slept well at night.

henetha Sat 10-Feb-18 10:24:19

Yes! I can't seem to help it. The first thing I know about it is when I wake up. I actually fell asleep in a friend's house last Thursday afternoon. She said I slept for half an hour.
Mind you, I am 80, so it's acceptable I think. And providing it happens during the afternoon and not the evening then I still sleep ok most nights.

TellNo1Ok Sat 10-Feb-18 10:28:34

Occasionally i find myself dropping off around 4... so i doze off for up to an hour...and very strangely i sleep better at night ... contrary isn't it...
But usually when i've been extra busy and genuinely tired ...

justrolljanet Sat 10-Feb-18 10:28:54

I am 63 and have never allowed myself to nap in the afternoon until I had pneumonia which started in January, I have no choice now, it has left me exhausted, it could become a habit, I have aged ten years, hopefully I will be like a caterpillar, sleep, eat and wake up beautiful..............

Skweek1 Sat 10-Feb-18 10:33:37

I'm type 1 diabetic and sometimes in afternoon have a bit of a spike, apart from having shocking nights (I'm a carer for 2 family members, so occasionally have a bit of a snooze. Call it a "power nap" - what a good name for it!

Coconut Sat 10-Feb-18 10:53:48

Sometimes ... accidentally !

sarahellenwhitney Sat 10-Feb-18 11:32:35

Living alone my time is my own and as an owl not a lark a catnap can be anytime.

EmilyHarburn Sat 10-Feb-18 11:38:38

If I have been out all day and am going out again in the evening I generally lie down for an hour before the evening exit.

oldgaijin Sat 10-Feb-18 11:40:44

Yes! I power snooze all through the day, only coming to when I feel a string of dribble down my chin...not a pretty sight especially on a bus/train!

Kim19 Sat 10-Feb-18 11:54:12

I too am an anytime napper. If I feel the urge I indulge it. If I should wake up during the night I indulge that too. Retirement? One long and lovely indulgence!

Saggi Sat 10-Feb-18 12:09:00

Lucky to sleep well at night Mrsmopp....I sleep approx. 3/4 hours at night and that not in one go! I try nitro allow myself to nap.... but really don’t think I need that much sleep anymore. It’s been going on 20 years ...tried all the remedies AND some I’ve never heard off. Nothing makes the slightest difference. If I wake about 2.30 in the morning , I’m wide awake , not drowsy or sleepy..... I’m so awake I could quote Pythagorus’ Theorem ....I had to write it out as ‘lines’ punishment once at school!!! I now don’t worry about sleeping. If it comes , it comes, if not I read a book or iron!!