November 2025
Naps
I know what you’re probably thinking: She’s not really going to write an entire newsletter about naps, is she?
Oh, but I am. Because for me, naps have become part of what it means to live…and to write.
Before October 2023, my life was nonstop. I thrived on being everything for everyone, all the time. Honestly, I loved it when people said, “I don’t know how you do it all.” It felt like my superpower.
Then I met my kryptonite. After battling an illness for six weeks, I woke up to a very different reality: daily fatigue. While my health has improved a lot since then (and I’m deeply grateful), naps have become a constant in my life.
Most days I can keep them short—thirty minutes. Other days, my body insists on more. And while you might be thinking, That actually sounds lovely, let me tell you—Western culture (especially the productivity-driven Dutch West Michigan kind) isn’t exactly nap-friendly.
I’ve taken more car naps than I can count. One time, when my timer went off, it took me a minute to even remember where I was. (Answer: Target’s parking lot.)
I have transitioned from teaching in-person to teaching online, and this has been a positive shift for me. But I have a dear friend who is recovering from a major surgery and is attempting to return to the office full time. She hears from her boss that she is supported, but she also wonders how to carve out that necessary nap sometime during her work day. (Yes, she confessed to me that she has locked her door, turned off the lights and taken a short office cat nap.)
Studies show that napping isn’t just indulgent; they’re actually good for us. The American Heart Association, Harvard Health and the National Sleep Foundation all agree that napping can restore mental clarity, fight off fatigue, boost productivity and improve overall well-being. Naps are medically necessary for infants and toddlers as their bodies and brains do the monumental work of growing and developing. And yet, most of us only allow ourselves the occasional Sunday nap, possibly with a football game or a NASCAR race on in the background as white noise.
So yes, today I’ll nap. Just like most days. And before you start feeling bad for me, know this: I’m okay. Honestly, I might even be better for it. Napping has forced me to slow down and reevaluate my priorities. If I only have so many awake hours, I want to spend them well.
I no longer accomplish everything, every day. I’m not the superhero I once was. And that’s not a bad thing. Spiderman once said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” I would say I’m now living in the world of “moderate power” with “moderate responsibility.”
And you know what? That feels a lot more manageable
My dog Teddy making naps look so cute and easy