We want to help you in your self-care practice, and to keep reminding you that this is important. Keep remembering to take care of yourself, and to keep doing the best you can. We’re here for you.

Aahhhhh…naps! I love naps! We all know how valuable sleeping can be for everyone. It keeps your brain moving well, it can help you focus at work, and it can keep you healthier. Plus: it just can feel nice.

From the Mayo Clinic: “Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults, including:

• Relaxation
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased alertness
• Improved mood
• Improved performance, including quicker reaction time and better memory

Of course, we encourage you to do what you can to generally get plenty of sleep at night. Things come up, and it isn’t always in your control. But do what you can to set a bedtime and to stick with it.

And then, consider adding in naps to your schedule.

More info from the Mayo:

“To get the most out of a nap, follow these tips:

• Keep naps short. Aim to nap for only 10 to 20 minutes. The longer you nap, the more likely you are to feel groggy afterward. However, young adults might be able to tolerate longer naps.
• Take naps in the early afternoon. Napping after 3 p.m. can interfere with nighttime sleep. Individual factors, such as your need for sleep, your sleeping schedule, your age and your medication use, also can play a role in determining the best time of day to nap.
• Create a restful environment. Nap in a quiet, dark place with a comfortable room temperature and few distractions.

After napping, give yourself time to wake up before resuming activities — particularly those that require a quick or sharp response.”

This one may be tricky to do when you are at the library. It requires some logistical planning if you are going to give it a try. Can you put your head down on a desk in the back room for a few minutes? What about the backseat of your car? I don’t nap at work, but I do like to come home, get things underway for evening, and maybe catch a quick nap on the couch. For me, it doesn’t interfere with my sleep – especially near the end of the week as I’m increasingly tired. For others, that might be a problem to nap within a couple of hours of bedtime, so see what will work for you.

Keep doing the best you can. Keep working to take care of yourself. We are here to support you.