Remember when being told to take an afternoon nap felt like a punishment? There were games to play, friends to see and far more interesting things to do than lie quietly in bed.
Years later, the same people who once resisted rest may find themselves wishing for an uninterrupted afternoon. Funny how something that seemed so unnecessary in childhood can become such a luxury in adulthood.
When rest becomes another task
An opportunity to lie down finally appears. Then comes the laundry, the messages waiting for replies, the kitchen that needs tidying or the shopping list that could be written now. Before long, the hour set aside for resting has been filled with work.
There is a strange contradiction in wanting more time to rest while feeling compelled to use every spare moment productively. Perhaps it comes from busy schedules, family responsibilities or simply becoming accustomed to always having something to do.
What did the grown-ups know?
The adults who insisted on afternoon naps may not have explained their reasoning in a way children appreciated. At the time, it was easier to see the fun being interrupted than the value of slowing down.
Of course, not everyone had the same childhood routines, and not everyone enjoys naps now. But the changing relationship with rest is familiar: something once resisted can become something deeply appreciated.
If an entire afternoon opened up with nothing urgent to do, would it be spent resting, or would another chore somehow find its way in?
