An idea to nap on


catnappingMerlin Mann says he’s met an astonishing number of people who can’t bring themselves to take naps during the day.

He’s never met me.

I don’t need a guide and software is unnecessary. TV on, TV off; it doesn’t matter. I try not to nap when I’m driving.

But I’m glad Mann’s often evangelizing the “transformative power” of a quick nap. Makes me think I’m onto something instead of a slacker.

Wikipedia finds a difference between a power nap and a catnap. Seems to me you awake refreshed and recharged from either. Something to dream upon.

Despite feeling groggy around 2 every day, I don’t get to nap — power, cat or otherwise — at work. But there are some famous people who regularly napped. I found this list:

* Winston Churchill – said he needed his afternoon nap to cope with his responsibilities.
* Thomas Edison attributed his tremendous amount of energy to sleeping whenever he wanted to.
* John D. Rockefeller took a nap every afternoon in his office.
* Eleanor Roosevelt was known to take a nap before a speaking engagement.
* William J. Clinton retired to his private quarters every afternoon at 3:00 for a 30-minute nap.
* Connie Mack took a nap before every game.
* Gene Autry used to take an hour nap in his dressing room between performances.
* Ronald Reagan has the ultimate napping reputation even though his wife denies that he had a napping habit.

And Mann point to a great infographic on Boston.com. Based on it, I’m a lark.

And Lifehacker says “You snooze, you gain.”

Do you regularly nap?