By Priyan R Naik
When I stepped away into retirement a few years ago, my wife strongly suggested I adopt a habit practiced by one of our older relatives. Every afternoon, without fail, he would quietly withdraw from the world. At exactly two o’clock each afternoon, following lunch and a brief tryst with the newspaper, he would set aside his glasses, recline comfortably in the veranda, and drift into sleep with effortless ease. The precision of his routine was striking. The first time I observed this, I couldn’t help but question it. He smiled and dismissed my curiosity with a casual, “Just a short nap.” True to his word, within twenty minutes he would return, alert and refreshed, as though he had been gently recharged.
At the time, I was far from impressed. To me, the afternoon nap seemed like a relic of a bygone era, associated with idle afternoons, and an absence of urgency. In a world driven by schedules, ambition, and constant activity, it felt indolent, if not outright lazy. Even in retirement, I believed one must remain industrious, relying on tea or coffee to perk you up, not on napping mid -day.
However, the body has its own logic. As the afternoon advances, a familiar heaviness begins to settle in. The eyes grow tired, thoughts slow down, and concentration becomes elusive. Simple tasks demand more effort, the mind starts drifting. In such moments, the idea of closing one’s eyes “just for a minute” becomes increasingly appealing.
What makes the afternoon nap intriguing is its defiance of our obsession with productivity. Rest is not the enemy of efficiency but its ally. Instead of pushing through fatigue with diminishing returns, a short pause can restore clarity and energy. A brief withdrawal from activity can sharpen the mind rather than dull it. Even history supports this idea. Many accomplished individuals have embraced short periods of rest during the day as a way to maintain creativity and focus. The notion that stepping away can enhance mental performance is not new, only overlooked in today’s fast-moving world.
Ironically, modern life has developed far more complicated ways to cope with tiredness. There are apps designed to track productivity, caffeinated beverages available with elaborate rituals and countless strategies aimed at squeezing out more efficiency. Yet, the simplest solution, a brief nap, often proves just as effective. With nothing more than a quiet space and a few uninterrupted minutes, one can return to work with renewed clarity.
Of course, there is a fine balance to maintain. A short rest can easily extend into a long sleep if one is not careful. Oversleeping in the afternoon can leave a person feeling disoriented, unsure of the time or even the day. Discipline is essential. But when practiced with moderation, a quick nap can work small wonders. It refreshes the mind, restores patience, and makes the rest of the day feel far more manageable.
Over time, I found myself gradually adopting this very habit I once dismissed. After lunch, the newspaper often slips from my hands, and the comfort of the sofa becomes difficult to resist. I surrender, if only for twenty minutes. When I wake, there is a noticeable difference, a renewed sense of readiness. The remainder of the day no longer feels burdensome. On days when this small ritual is disrupted, I notice the absence immediately. There is a subtle irritability, a lack of focus, it feels comparable to a machine missing its routine maintenance.
Now, I understand what my elderly relative had discovered long ago. His daily retreat was an act of preparation, by setting aside a small portion of his day for rest, he ensured that the following hours were filled with greater energy. In giving himself those twenty minutes, he gained much more in return.
(The writer is a regular contributor to The Shillong Times)
