Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
You can tell someone is over the age 16 when their favourite thing ‘to do’ is sleep. I am in no way an exception to this rule. I often find myself either physically tired or mentally drained for the majority of the day. The only common solution I have to those two problems is to rest my heavy head against the soft surface of my cotton stuffed pillow.
As silly as it may sound, there is definitely a stigma around young adults napping. Naps are often associated with being lazy, unproductive and even unhealthy. Surprisingly, it isn’t just adults who think teens napping are unjustified.
Just the other day, I was talking to a friend about this fantastic nap I had just taken, when a boy - no older than nine - gave me THE most judgmental look I had ever seen. It was like he couldn’t believe a 17 year old girl needed some additional rest. This look was the king of all “judgy” looks and was so effective that it made me question myself. Was napping really that bad?
I only started to take naps when I was 16. I did it once and never thought of it again. Now it’s a form of habit. Similar to other habits, naps are addictive. They start off as a one-time thing, but then you find yourself doing it a second time and then a third and finally you’re in this addictive loop struggling to get out. Once you’re hooked, it becomes really difficult to stop. Sleep is my vice, only with significantly fewer drawbacks.
I can at least find comfort in the fact that unlike addicts, I can openly talk about sleep in front of young children without the fear of being judged- oh wait.
