I’ve got a buddy who is on me to the point of almost frustration because I take regular naps when I can. I’m not the best sleeper, and currently unemployed following a health episode. So, if I have a bad night of sleep… I’ll take a nap, instead of chugging coffee or energy drinks just to stay up. It’s not like it interferes with my day or getting things done. I also don’t have kids or a wife, so I’m not missing anything besides daytime TV. It’s not daily, but 2-3 times a week.
He insists this is lazy, immature, that adults don’t take naps, and I’m doing myself a huge disservice by not getting up and “being productive” in the early morning and day hours.
What do you all think? Do normal adults nap when needed? Or am I really an anomaly?
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Huh? Adult humans have been taking naps since… forever…
Your buddy sounds insufferable. Nobody cares how many naps you take.
naps are fantastic, and great for your health—especially if you’re not sleeping well. your hustle-culture buddy is dead wrong.
It’s totally normal.
How long do you nap though? Any longer th an about 20 minutes for me and it just ruins my day. But a power nap is very refreshing.
Your friend is wrong.
If your body says sleep, and you got nowhere to be, and nothing to do, then sleep. Plenty of adults take naps. Your buddy is full of it.
Sounds like your buddy wishes he could be napping
I nap 1-2 times a week. Sleep is good for you. Your boy is too revved up.
My grandpa told me to nap when you feel like you need one. I have napped regularly since i was a teenager because, why not. Maybe he is just jealous that he isn’t taking naps too.
Umm what? It’s immature and lazy to take naps?
If you’re tired, then sleep. It’s stupid to push yourself to the point of collapse. That’s how people fall asleep at the wheel and have car accidents.
I don’t take naps often, mostly because I just don’t have the time, but on days I’m home, nothing to do, oh my, naps are heaven. I cherish those sum beaches.
i take naps almost daily at 31. i’ve always been a napper.
Nothing wrong with a nap at all especially if you have nothing dire that needs to be done
Crazy? I appreciate a good nap whenever I can nowadays. Your friend has a few unresolved issues on how he would be perceived (in his head only) if he’d take naps. We’re constantly hustling and pushing ourselves beyond our breaking point and sleep is essential for processing events and healing the body, replenishing dopamine reserves and basically maintaining our organism. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in about a year so if I get the chance to sneak in a little Zzz I take it.
If he sees health and mental health as lazy, immature and unproductive oh brother. Either that or he grew up in a household where…. I mean, not my place to mention it. Just tell the guy you’re so far ahead in productivity that you’re giving him a chance to catch up and see how he takes it, and I bet he won’t take it as easy as you can take a good nap!
You know what your body needs, especially if you are still recovering from illness or injury. Ignore him.
If you find yourself sleeping all of the time, that’s different.
Your buddies opinion is a bad one. Naps are great.
Naps are great. I’ll never forget my boomer father in law complaining to me I took too many naps when he was a guest in my house and I had infants. I would legit nap with my 2 year old when she napped because I was so exhausted all day and he said some shit when I woke up with her came into the room. Like “you should see a doctor, a grown man shouldn’t nap”. Mind you this dude grew up in an era where guys worked from 8-4, drank with friends after, and did jack shit with babies.
That was the exact moment it went from me being polite because I had to for so many years to me telling him don’t cross lines and keep your judgments to your fuckin self or I’ll kick your ass out of my house. It needed to happen and we’ve been cool since, but don’t fuck with my naps or comment on them in my house. Take your naps OP
Naps are great and healthy. Tell your “buddy” to shove his fist up his ass.
Sleep when your body tells ya too.
If you can get a nap that doesn’t interfere with productivity take it
You aren’t napping, you are just resting your eyes.
I didn’t realize that there are adults that don’t take naps.
Your buddy is weird. Lots of adults takes naps sometimes. Naps are awesome when you need them. There are literally no rules or even agreed upon norms about what’s “mature and normal” for adults to do with their own damn free time, when they’re not hurting anyone. Just do what works for you.
If you feel like a nap, take one. I like naps. Waking up refreshed and rejuvenated is good.
I have a 4 year old and we take naps every day together.
You ever get a sleep test OP? CPAP is literally life changing
Your buddy is like me many years ago. I now squeeze naps in when I can during work days if I’m working from home.
15-30 min naps make the day sooo much better. So nap away man!
I work 12 hours a day during the week and another four on Sunday. I will sneak two naps in on Saturday if I can. Does that mean your buddy thinks I’m twice as lazy?
Most or many people I know take naps from time to time.
Personally I can’t do it no matter how sleep deprived I am so I try and get my 8+ hours each night unless I’m at a festival or something.
I’ve taken naps many times per week since I was in highschool. I’m 35 now and one of my favorite things is a Saturday afternoon nap. As an adult we get burnt out, but also as an introvert in a leadership role, I need to be able to shut off my brain and quiet it down for a bit when I get the chance.
Your buddy is kind of immature himself for that behavior, and I would stop sharing that information with him.
I’m a never napper but have always been jealous of those who can
I took naps in college.
that pitiful, fugly couch was the most comfortable couch, especially with windows open and a warm spring breeze with that clean smell.
I blame that couch for -0.02 on my total GPA but it worked wonders in all other aspects of my life. my roommates and I would race home from our respective classes just to claim it. And the cushions had to be cool before anyone else could claim it so everybody got gud at taking a commercial break shit.
Better than drinking caffeine and energy drinks up the ass just to get by while simultaneously destroying your body. Does your friend do that? I would ignore him.
37 here. Love naps. Used to live by the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” but now? I need 6 hours, bare minimum or I’m choosing violence.
Tell your buddy it sounds like he missed his nap time
As a dad, I’d kill for some naps.
When in doubt nap it out
Daytime naps are associated with a reduced risk of dementia. However, the duration matters.
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13009#:~:text=Two%20recently%20published%20studies%20reported,a%20lower%20Alzheimer's%20disease%20risk.
The only caveat I can see is: are you doing what you need to do to get healthy and back on your feet?
If yes: fuckin nap. Who cares?
I’m currently in a similar boat. Still employed but on short term disability from a heart attack. I’m doing a few brain games and taking walks every morning and such. But other than that… sleeping a lot until doc says I can go back to work!
Even if I were looking for a new job, there’s plenty of time to nap in between applications and such.
Taking naps is not lazy and especially good if you’re doing mental manual labor (like filling out job applications) or creative work (though only really effective if you are also not abusing caffeine).
That being said, you also mentioned ‘getting up’ in the morning so if you’re spending most of the morning in bed, grabbing lunch, and then napping that might be an issue. Probably means you’re more depressed than lazy but still…
I’ve taken regular naps since I was a kid. Teen, 20s, 30s, and now. No reason not to.
I pretty regularly nap depending on activity levels and nighttime sleep quality. Its not every day or very long(10-15 minutes)
Live your life homie. Nap away if you want.
Nope. I took naps every day after work when I was single and no kids. Ironically i didn’t really need them. Now i do but i cant have them
Brother, anyone who’s on your case for a nap is probably either just jealous that they can’t get a nap in or needy and missing you while you nap. I inherited a gift/curse from my father where I can’t sleep much more than 4-5 hours a night. Once every few weeks I need that lazy Sunday nap and at this age nothing can stop me from that. Listen to your body and not your nap-insecure buddy.
Not crazy or lazy. It was a hard habit to break but I was taking 3-4 hours naps after work everyday. They felt great,, naps are life. But I forced myself to stop so that I could sleep at night at a decent time, for a decent amount. It’s a vicious cycle for me that I had to break in order to function. Now I go to the gym after work and allow a nap on Friday and sleep well from 8-2.
I sleep like old people fuck.
I take naps on the regular.
Your buddy doesn’t sound like a buddy. Naps are great. Your “buddy” is not.
it bugs him more that your life allows you to take naps.
He needs to fix his life.
No it’s not lazy or crazy. I don’t know how accurate this is but I once heard that the most effective way to prevent heart attacks is taking regular naps
But like what does your friend mean that you’re missing out on being productive? Like you’re getting your shit done anyway, are they just mad that you can get your shit done more quickly/ efficiently than them?
Wife hates when I nap on my day off. This checks out
Your friend is is an asshole. Rest up, be ready when something is happening.
Being productive is overrated
Your buddy needs to mind his own fucking business
Man… I’m 37. Take at least a couple naps a week.
I never used to nap when I was younger, but now that I’m “old” and tired, I think taking naps is great.
A nap is a beautiful thing. Your friend is a dumb ass. I sometimes plan a nap days in advance. Even better when the weather is great and you break out the hammock or fall asleep under a canopy at the beach. Or on your couch during a thunderstorm. I swear naps help you get better when you’re sick too.
I take a nap everyday, right after work, from 3pm – 345pm and then I head to daycare to pick up my baby relaxed, refreshed and ready for the second half of my day. Your friend doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Naps are a LUXURY that very few can afford.
Revel in it.
Your buddy needs to chill the fuck out. Holy shit. I’ll literally take an impromptu nap with my cat when she’s being impossibly cute. And I feel great about it.
Frankly, the older you get the more you value the need for rest of any sort when the feeling hits you. Take your naps.
If it helps you stay alert when it matters, all the better. I’m a dreadful sleeper, and I wish I was able to take naps to counteract it.
You should see a sleep doctor. I used to nap all the time during the day, but after getting on a CPAP, I only nap 1-2 times per week for maybe 20 -30 min
Could be your medication, (your doctor is against drinking because alcohol is a depressant and you are on anti depressants) could be sleep apnea, could be you don’t know how to get into rest mode at night and sit in front of a screen right before sleeping, or a lot of other things. Medication is not a good way to deal with sleep.
I also nap daily, but excessively from 2 to 4 hours. This is due to various issues. If you don’t deal with your particular sleep issues now, it will likely get worse. If you main issue is falling asleep, take a walk, sit down and meditate and rest your brain when you get back, do not look at your phone, computer, TV etc. Turn on a fan for some white noise, lay down and starting from toes, go up your entire body tightening and releasing your muscles and concentrate on your breathing in through nose, hold, out through mouth hold. Then when you are done, just lay there in your most comfortable position. If you still can’t sleep take another walk and go through the routine again. Eventually your body will recognize this is how it prepares for sleep and will take less time to fall asleep.
If you are waking unrested, you need a sleep apnea test, to at least rule that out. Anyhow, when I go to sleep I fall right to sleep now, I just don’t sleep for as long as I prefer, and therefore, nap during the day. Your mileage my vary depending on effort and how your body reacts. Lots of people nap though, you aren’t really napping when it is 2 hours or more. You are sleeping. Naps are inherently short under an hour.
Naps are literally what keeps me going. If I wasn’t able to just get comfy and shut down for 30 minutes every now and then, I’d light myself on fire.
Hogwash. Take a nap every chance you get.
Fuck no. Naps are awesome.
I’m more impressed, naps usually make me feel like utter garbage afterwards
I’m laying in bed about to take a short nap as I write this. I would tell them they should be spending that energy they are using worrying about you taking naps and use it to maybe try taking their own advice and go do something productive.
I wish I could take naps. If I sleep a wink in the middle of the day I’ll be up hours past my bedtime. Nap away.
Power naps are actually encouraged. It greatly helps productivity. Even better, a cup of coffee right before a 40-min nap. The caffeine kicks in as you wake up.
I think your buddy needs to find something else to worry about.
I actually have never been able to nap but this year I have been training myself to so prep for my first kid hah. I figure it’s an important skill in stress management if you’re productive otherwise.
No that guy can kick rocks. There is nothing wrong with a good, and restful nap. As long as you aren’t neglecting something else you need to do.
Not weird or bad at all. That said, if you don’t get high quality sleep, it might be worth getting checked for sleep apnea. If you do have it, treating it properly will change your life!
If you’re healing, naps are especially important. Sounds like he’s just being judgemental bc he assumes you’re not going to work or something.
This reminds me of people who “wake up at 3:30 every morning” but they dont tell you they are in bed by 7 pm.
Sounds like your friends needs a nap
Taking nap is one of the best things you can do. Listen to your body.
I nap all the time on the weekends and summers.
During football if the Vikings have a morning game on Sundays I usually nap after during the afternoon games. Snowboard season I get up super early to enjoy some of my morning before I all the family gear and get out the door by 7:30, so after driving there riding all morning (or to mid day) and driving home I’m wiped! Time to nap. I’m also a teacher and love to start my summer days early before my wife and kid are up to get stuff done to then nap for a couple hours in the afternoon. Almost every family event at my MIL’s involves heavy carb food, so I load up my plate and eat a ton then promptly head to the couch and nap.
Naps are the fuckin’ best. Get a new friend.
For about 10 years, I was the maintenance person for a school. I lived a few kilometres from the school and would go home for lunch. Most days I would have a nap for a couple of hours and then I would go back to work, generally after the kids had left for the day and do a couple of hours work on things that I couldn’t do when the kids were there.
Naps are awesome.
No. Naps are amazing. Take them whenever you want.
I am 54.
Naps are great.
Your “friend” is a fool.
I think Spain has a culture where an afternoon nap is just part of regular life.
There’s a lot of research that shows that a 20 to 30 minute nap to be not only restorative but healthy. The problem is you don’t want to sleep much beyond that or you’ll have to go through an entire sleep cycle of about 90 minutes.
If you’re in the US the odds are you suffer from a sleep deficit and it’s almost impossible to make that up but a 20 minute nap is just the thing.
I am a truck driver and I cannot begin to count the number of times in the early afternoon I pulled over and set a timer for 30 minutes and it has made the difference between almost nodding out at the wheel and getting the rest of my day accomplished.
I only take naps.
I quit drugs Jan 15 of this year after almost losing an entire decade. I never napped before but I’ve been napping every day since I quit and napping is glorious.
Must be nice. I lost the ability to nap once I got to my thirties
Here is a mantra: It’s only a problem if it’s a problem.
You were doing just fine until your buddy came along and assessed your life. As far as I’m concerned, anybody who calls me lazy and immature and gives me unsolicited advice is not a friend.
I take a nap every day. If it’s immature, I don’t wanna grow up (and you can’t make me!)
Taking a short nap vs having a bunch of caffeine is a no brainer for health.
I literally have naps scheduled every day after my lunch – 45 minutes. And I’m about as big of a grinder as there is. It’s a lovely break and recharges me to keep working the rest of the day. I also work 7 days a week so I don’t feel guilty about it at all
your buddy’s opinion will change VERY quickly if he ever has kids. Imagine having ~4 hours of sleep a night on average, often broken/inconsistent.
Your buddy is a douche. Bet he uses the terms “hustle mindset”, and “get that bread” unironically.
I would kill to be able to nap, but my body just doesn’t work like that. Sleep when you want, who gives a shit.
I love to take naps. I do get up early 4:30 AM on occasion and run out of gas in the afternoon so a good nap is perfect. Tell your buddy to mind his business and move along
I take naps. Sure. I am 67 and you would think that naps would just be a thing for me now, but I was taking naps back in my late teens, early twenties, when I was in the service. We would get early meal passes just so we could get a half hour worth of shuteye after our noon meals. Then again, we would stay up late, too, with cards and midwatches, so napping was just a way to catch up on sleep. These days with my regular work day I can’t fit them in but on a weekend, sure, they are refreshing and are as nice as a cup of coffee. I am not talking epic sleeps, just twenty minutes, a half hour, enough to give me a boost, not weigh me down for the rest of the day. Your buddy need to try out a nap now and again instead of the energy drink you mentioned. It might be a life changing experience for him. C
While I was in the Marines, we were on standby until 3am out in the field. And I literally had nothing to do until we were called, so we were told “to get some sleep if you can,” throughout the day. We had to be ready and alert when called, so being rested only improved our response.
With that mentality, I take 20-30 minutes naps a few times a day sometimes. And I wake up much more energized after. Occasionally it fucks me up and I’m out of it for awhile but not often.
Naps are fucking sweet, and not lazy.
Naps are awesome.
There are several countries throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southern Europe, and China who all have siestas built into their culture.
Napping doesn’t mean you’re lazy.
Man I nap every day, if my buddy was that bent out of shape about it I’d tell him he needs a nap because hes cranky
I am 43 and take naps because I’m burned out raising 2 kids by myself. I always tell my girls, if you’re tired it’s ok to sleep (you know, after looking into any possible medical issues)
I’m 33 and have a full time job and don’t sleep well and have Chrons and I love naps. I follow rules because I do it often, I don’t let myself nap for more than 25 min and it’s just to refuel.
Buddy is just jealous. When you’re tired, why wouldn’t you nap? It’s totally natural, good for you, etc
I survived my 30’s by napping. I used my kids as an excuse. They would crawl into my lap and fall asleep and that was my cue to drift off as well.
Love naps. I’m fortunate to have a work from home job. Lunch hour is usually 20 minutes eating, 40 minutes napping. Sometimes just napping if I had a good breakfast.
Adults nap. Adults w children nap. Old people nap. Wait for it…
Humans nap.
Case closed.
humans were biphasic or triphasic for the most of recorded human history lmao. singular sleeping phases is a relatively modern change.
That’s also not taking into account the cultural idea of siesta’s. Despite the spanish name it’s a global phenomenon, and I’m bullshitting here but I wouldn’t be surprised if at least 15-20% of the world participates in that shit culturally.
F him. I’m an adult and need naps sometimes. Who his he to police your sleep.
It just depends on the person. I used to take a nap during lunch in my car at work 2-3 days a week. That was a manager gig at a publicly trade tech company. It’s definitely not a lazy thing, some people just do well with naps and others don’t.
Power naps all the time before hitting the gym or hockey rink for me. On a lazy weekend? Power naps before doing nothing = absolute aces!
Dude napping is so underrated and over criticized.
I will take 30 min after I drop my son off and then another 30 min before he goes to bed
My gf and I love our naps. We are 33 and 34. Our dogs love to nap with us
What friend doesn’t let a friend sleep? 🤯 I can’t get through the day without lying down/napping for a bit. You’re perfectly okay OP. You’re not the problem, your friend is.
Please I would nap every day if humanly possible. Screw your friend lol
I would argue naps are more popular now with wfh! And with that mental health!
That being said not a napper and can never do it unless sick but my wife is!
Your friend has been watching too many Dubai-based-grind-culture-bro-dude youtubers. Naps are amazing and also super beneficial for your health. Nap on!
You need a better friend lol
Being an adult is being able to enjoy a nap.
Why on earth would it be immature?
You’re taking care of your body, if you don’t get enough sleep during the night a quick nap is perfectly normal.
I take naps since 30 years. My grandpa and dad did the same. Great way to refresh energy levels. Your buddy is an ass with ears
Your friend is an idiot
Humans really are really “supposed” to have two sleep periods per day and a single sleep is really a more modern invention.
The best thing about being an adult is, I can take naps whenever the Hell I want to… well I’m not supposed to nap at work… but on my time. Imma nap when I want to. The best thing about napping, if you do it multiple times a day, EVERY MEAL IS BREAKFAST!!! WIN! MOTHERFUCKING WIN!
To answer the question though, No. No it is not crazy/lazy of you. Tired, nap. Your friend just wishes they had the freedom you have.
I don’t do it frequently because of the job + kids + animals + all household and social obligations. My days tend to be packed. But, when I can, and I’m tired, I’ll tell my wife I need an hour and just take a nap. Perhaps like once every month or two, but if I had fewer things demanding my attention, I would do it more regularly. I feel stronger and more focused and generally happier having a tiny nap in the day.
Recently read research that shows people who nap have less chance of dementia and better mental acuity… nap away!
Being tired during the day can also be a sign of a weak heart or low iron… might get lab work just to make sure there’s not a medical reason you’re tired, but otherwise, nap as much as you like!
Nah he’s an asshat just trying to feel better about himself by trashing a totally normal thing for people to do.
My health has been declining because I didn’t take naps and lost sleep over stupid shit. Getting as much sleep as you can is so important. So many health problems, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, are sleep issue problems when you boil it down or at least the factors leading to it.
You’re a grown man nap if you want to. Tell your buddy your life is not his and to knock off.
Your buddy is a prick and projecting. I’ve been regularly napping since I was 25. If I have 20-30 minutes of down time and I need it, I’m sleeping.
I love a Sunday afternoon nap
There was a study that recently linked the lack of sleep to dementia. So I’d say take those naps.
I’m a big fan of naps. When I’m training up for a triathlon they’re pretty much daily. Even if it’s 15-20 minutes I wake up feeling significantly better.
Your buddy is a bell end, nappers gonna nap 🤷
I take a 15 minute nap pretty much every day. I get home from the gym around midday, eat something, make myself comfortable in bed watching YouTube and at some point I’ll fall asleep. I always wake up after 15 minutes, give or take, but it’s really refreshing.
I also don’t consider it ‘lazy’ or ‘immature’. I’m a 44yo man, retired, I have a family and do school runs and groceries etc… if I’m tired and I have a spare moment, hell, I’m going to sleep.