The "How Good Are You At Nappi...Opps...I mean Resting?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Mid-afternoon and I just woke up from a short rest.  I find that the older I get, the more I tend to rest after having my lunchtime meal.  Actually...I rested even when I was young!  Back then my mother called it a nap!  And... even today my wife calls it that... but I tell her I am only resting.  I find that a good rest can help me think a bit more clearly than when I am tired. A brief rest seems to improve my memory and puts me in a better mood.  I recently read an article that I found in my local newspaper that was titled "Get the most our of you nap!"  They suggested I experiment with a midday rest....Yes, I did notice that they didn't say rest!  So...I have decided to do what they suggested and try to become a skilled rester.  Found that the best time to rest is about six to eight hours after I wake up in the morning.  I read that there is a "natural circadian dip" in early to mid-afternoon due to levels of the stress hormone cortisol and other signals that help keep me alert.  It is mid-afternoon that my alertness begins to wane.  I am supposed to be careful about resting too late into the day or for too long.  Easy to do, so it is!  I read that I may not actually fall asleep during my rest, or at least I may not think I have, but that's OK.  We are often "somewhat conscious" in the early stages of resting, but it's still good rest!  Settle into a quiet place where you're unlikely to be interrupted, and put your phone on airplane mode.  Try to tune into your five senses to "get out of your head and into your body," and let your breathing slowdown and deepen.  It is recommended that you limit your rest to about 20 minutes - just enough time to capture the lightest stages of a sleep cycle.  Yeah...like that's going to happen!  Set an alarm so you can relax and know you'll wake in time for the next thing in your day.  Give yourself a few minutes to wake up and try to get some sunshine or bright light in your eyes.  That's a strong signal for your brain that it's time to be alert.  Some  people have a hard time waking from rests and don't seem to benefit from them as much as others do.  If resting isn't for you, consider going for a walk or some deep breathing.  Just make sure you don't over rest and miss that important event or phone call.  Easy to do!  I know!  Seems to happen more the older I get!  But then again...aren't old people supposed to rest every day!  I think it was my mom or dad that told me that.  And, I'm finding they were correct!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.