Two out of the last three days, I was attacked by a ninja. A ninja nap. It snuck up on me after my usual post-work routine: walk the dogs, feed the dogs, feed myself. I found my limbs sluggish and my eyes heavy, so I gave into the ninja nap.
Three hours later, I woke up. (Both times.)
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes a nap catches me off-guard. I’ve got things planned, work to do… but I find myself sinking down into sleep instead. It can throw off my whole schedule for the rest of the day, but sometimes my body’s need for rest is stronger than my brain (or my plans).
And sometimes, it’s good to let your body be in charge once in a while. There are plenty of times when we soldier on, ignore the body’s desperate plea for a nap or a snack or what have you.
The hard question is: does my body really need what it’s asking for? In the case of a nap, am I really that tired, or am I trying to avoid something? My stomach says it wants a huge plate of chili cheese fries, but am I just seeking comfort? Is there some nutrient my body is asking for in the guise of a greasy snack?
The answer, I think, lies in knowing yourself well. There are days when I nap because I’m bored, or because I’m trying to avoid something. It’s a different sort of tiredness than the ninja naps that hit me over the last few days. I suspect these ninja naps are stress-related, because things have been a little crazy in Aimeeland. It seems like the ninja naps are my body asking for a little thought-free time, a chance for the subconscious to process everything that’s going on. And, a good time to let the raging stress hormones calm down.
I suspect the chili cheese fry craving is similarly inspired. My comfort foods in times of stress are often hot, greasy, and bad for me — things that feel good in the moment but then more often than not leave me feeling kind of guilty. And that just makes things worse. Instead, I had a bowl of chili with a modest amount of cheese and skipped the fries entirely. My stomach was satisfied and my conscience was satisfied!
It’s not always easy to step back and ask yourself why you’re craving what you crave, whether it be junky food or an afternoon siesta. It might be easier to look back and figure out why, rather than questioning it in the moment. I wasn’t thinking, “hey, why am I so tired?” before my nap, I was mostly thinking, “hey, where’s my blankie?”