Here's something new from our pal Pete of Full Permission Living.
There's a nice piece on the benfits of napping and giving oneself as a parent time for rest and recovery from the tasks of the daily job on Heather Cabot's website: http://www.thewellmom.com.
I have incorporated napping into my daily routine since the late 1980's - 20 to 40 minutes usually does it - and I have found that it can be a great help in re-energizing the body and clearing the mind, important to me, not only as a parent, but in my work as a therapist and writer. Solving an intractable mental problem, like writer's block, for example, can frequently give way if you "sleep on it." Another good alternative to refresh the body and mind is a walk - preferably in nature (Prospect Park is still pristine enough and quite suitable). Getting out of the house and moving one's body is also a great reliever of stress, anxiety and depression in the short run. So, folks, have your R & R every day, along with your apple, and keep the doldrums away.