I’m a really good power napper. If power napping was an official Olympic event, I’d get a gold medal every time. I would be training for London 2012 like you wouldn’t believe.
There’s nothing about a good power nap that doesn’t make me feel refreshed and energized. Give me twenty minutes to close my eyes, and I will wake up feeling like a brand new lady.
As far as I know, I’ve always been a good napper. I can really fall asleep anywhere – the car, the couch, the bus on the way back from the field trip with my students (I wish I were joking). I am more than certain I was a good napper when I was younger as well.
Most likely on the weekends, I’ll enjoy a good nap on Saturday afternoons. In the summertime, it becomes a daily occurrence. Apparently I need to fill a bottle up with sangria this summer because I fall asleep like a baby any chance I get. Although, don’t give your babies sangria – that’s illegal and you’d probably get arrested.
This afternoon after my errands were done, my garden was weeded, and a much needed shower was taken, I figured I could lay down on the couch, close my eyes, and reenergize myself for the evening – because you know, sitting on the couch with your husband is pretty hard core and takes a lot of energy out of you.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the Husband walked through the door. He saw my plan to nap and decided that would be a good idea. So on he sauntered the the bedroom to lay down as well.
Twenty minutes… that was all I needed. Besides, I deserved it. Who gets woken up by their dog at 5:30 AM on the first day of summer vacation anyways?
90 minutes later I opened my eyes again.
This. Was. Not. Good.
We all know I am not a dramatic person*. Naps longer than 20 minutes mess me up completely. I am ruined for the rest of the day. My productivity is out the window for sure.
*I am lying.
A good word to describe me after a long nap is discombobulated. Nothing makes sense. My brain is so foggy that I can’t focus on anyone or anything for at least two-three hours.
Heck, I might as well go back to bed and call it a night.
What I found out today, however, is I’m really good at making dinner when discombobulated.
As long as knives aren’t involved.
Then that’s just scary.
Asparagus and White Bean Pasta (serves 3-4)
- 1 bag brown rice penne pasta (or regular pasta for a non-GF version)
- 1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 red onion, thinly wedged
- 8 baby Portobello mushrooms, halved
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly chopped
- 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast
- garlic and pepper to taste
- sun dried tomatoes, for garnishing
Directions: Begin by bringing a medium sauce pan filled with water to a boil. While waiting for your water to boil, you can chop your vegetables for cooking. Once at a rapid boil, add your pasta and cook per package directions.
Next, add 1 tbsp. olive oil to a deep stir fry pan and heat on medium high. Add your asparagus, red onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Add 2 tbsp. water for steaming effect. Cover with a lid and stir frequently until vegetables are tender (~7-8 minutes).
When the pasta and vegetables are tender, drain the pasta and add to the sauté pan with the vegetables (if your pan is large enough – if not, add the vegetables to the pasta). Add one tbsp. balsamic vinegar and white beans and stir to coat.
In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast, and the fresh basil. Stir to combine – it shouldn’t be like a “sauce” – the olive oil and nutritional yeast will absorb into the basil and create a paste-like substance. Add this to the pasta and stir to coat. Garnish with sun dried tomatoes and enjoy!
After this, I think I might start napping longer on a regular basis.
It certainly wasn’t quite as long as the Husband’s 3 hour nap.
But I also missed my window of opportunity to refill my prescription and now have to drive to the nearest 24 hour pharmacy, which isn’t all that near.
Good thing I have 20 minutes before my prescription is ready – I think I could use another nap.
Question: What is your nap of choice? A power nap, a longer nap, or no nap at all (the horror!!!)?
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a power napper, IF I nap. I usually get far too busy to sneak naps in.
I make time. There is no stopping me.
UGH I wish I could nap. It usually takes me like 20 minutes to even fall asleep so the nap is pointless by then. I can only nap when I’m literally BEAT…like pulled an all nighter.
Definitely a power nap! I love long naps, but I always feel drowsy after them.
I tend to go through napping phases. Sometime I really love them (in the afternoons especially), and sometimes I don’t feel like I need them (which works too
). But, when I do nap, I prefer them to be around 20 minutes. Any longer and I feel groggy.
This looks delicious! I love white beans. I definitely like power naps. Long naps make me feel sooo groggy afterwards, and I never want to wake up from them!
I struggle to nap……..unless I”m reallly, really tired and end up falling asleep and then it turns into passed out for 2 hours..no good!
No nap… I know! I have never been a napper for some reason. But I can lay down to rest, and read a book or watch TV instead
My hubby loves naps though -about 45 minutes for him.
Comforting arby food is the perfect thing for when you take late naps, too. Otherwise, it’s HELLO 2am.
Comforting carby food is the perfect thing for when you take late naps, too. Otherwise, it’s HELLO 2am.
Haha I like you. I loooove naps. However I am discombobulated after long ones too — but after 20 I am perfect!! Yummm I can’t wait to make pasta:)
Naps can be hit or miss with me. Sometimes when I want to take a nap it just doesn’t happen. I lay there wishing I could fall asleep for just.a.minute. When my body corporates and I am able to take a nap, it usually is a power nap. I HATE long naps because like you said, then I feel like I won’t get anything done and I’m always so cranky, hehe.
I’ve never mastered the art of napping. I lie down to try and then my mind starts racing and usually all of a sudden I remember something I had forgotten to do and before I realize I am up and at it.
Essentially the nap and me don’t work great, but maybe I should give it a try if it means when I wake up I will be able to cook something as tasty looking at your pasta!
sun dried tomatoes, for garnishing…but i’d actually go to town on those for eating in the main dish too..i love tomatoes in all forms. and asparagus!
power naps. napping in general.
take it if you can get it!
I definitely added more than just a garnish! I kept adding more… and then some more… you get the picture!
I love the longer naps. I know they kind of throw ya’ off, but they’re my indulgence from time to time on the weekends. And 20 minute naps just frustrate me. It’s never enough!
I’m on and off with naps but my dad and sister swear by them! I agree though, long naps just make you feel worse.
Okay, you’ve already called gold, so I guess I’ll take silver. I generally go to my car at lunch time and have a 15-20min nap. If I don’t get my lunchtime nap I absolutely need one when I get home, or before 6pm. 20 minutes is max for me too. I get discombobulated too if I sleep for anything longer than 20 minutes. I used to ask Kevin (my bf) to wake me up after 20 minutes, but he ALWAYS lets me sleep longer which drives me nuts!!
Sometimes I wish I napped at lunch time! I used to when I worked for a summer camp/day care. I always stole 20 minutes during lunch!
I don’t think I’ve ever taken that short of a nap! I can’t remember the last time I napped, but when I do it, I do it big- as in, I sleep the whole afternoon! I can’t even lay down during the day for fear of sleeping the rest of the day
All your dishes are wooooonderful! I love how creative you get! I always need some good ideas
I’m a power napper, too. The other day, I worked the morning shift, took a FIFTEEN minute nap about an hour after finishing work and I felt great!
I love the word discombobulated. and I totally know what you mean, I can power nap too, but if I go over 20-25 minutes, total discombobulation.
this pasta is PERFECT! all of my very favorite things!
Oh man, I suck at napping. Even if I try to “power nap,” I still feel, ahem, discombobulated.
i love asparagus! yum!! as for naps, they are really hit and miss for me. there is that window between being long enough to re-energize me but then if i sleep too long i wake up groggy and sort of in a funk for the rest of the day. so i suck at them too…lol.
I too am amazing at falling asleep any and everywhere! I am def. a power napper though…I don’t like long naps either they mess me up! I love anything that has asparagus in it!
I am all about the naps but I agree they can be discombobulating! I had to make a rule with myself to stop taking pre dinner naps except for once a week because they were really throwing off my sleep schedule!
I need to get some of that salad into my life!
no nap or I my day is usually wasted. Although, when I have been missing night sleep for couple days a row, one power nap makes it better.
Power naps literally get me through life. Love them. But I agree- longer than 20 or 30 minutes and I’m “ruined” for the rest of the day!
I am definitely an advocate of the longer nap. I was just not built for power npas. The utter decadence, the near hedonistic nature of the longer (1-2 hour) nap is what I was made for. Especially on the afternoons where I have done my long run in the morning, then I feel like the indulgence is justified. I do admire powernappers but I don’t think I will be joining their ranks very soon.
I’m more of a longer nap kind of person. I need 45 minutes to a hour to feel energized. I do have to get out of the sleepiness from taking a nap, but then I’m all good for the rest of the day.
I wasn’t a napper for the longest time…started napping freshman year in college ( I NEEDED that nap after those late nights
) and now I’m back to not having the ability to fall asleep during the day. hrmph. sometimes just decided to relax in bed is the next best thing, though.
this pasta looks awesome!
I wish I could nap! If I do, and I can actually fall asleep, I prefer a power nap. If I nap too long, I wake up more tired and crankier than I already was!
I’m so jealous of your ability to nap! I’ve tried before, but I end up just lying awake in bed with my eyes open for an hour.
I wish I could be a good power-napper! When I try to “nap” I never fully fall asleep and always wake up more tired than I was before. Although if I’m really desperate laying down for a few minutes could probably help.
Ah that pasta dish looks so perfect for summer, and I love all of those ingredients! Sundried tomatos + basil are two of my favorite ingredients. Thanks for the recipe!
your dish looks delicious. I enjoy power naps!
I’m not a big napper, but sometimes I just NEED one. My body usually wakes me up after an hour, though…any longer than that and I’m screwed. I only take them when I’m super-duper exhausted!
can u please give me some napping skills!! i SUCK at napping.. i lay down and my head just goes 10000 mph!! can u believe i never use to like asparagus until like… a year ago?!
I like a power nap! Short and sweet! If I nap longer, I am useless!! lol!
Your dinner looks so good!
I hope you made it to get your prescription!!
I did! All was saved.
This pasta dish looks heavenly, but oh so easy to prepare! I’m definitely putting this one on the menu for this week…thanks! love your blog!
I’m sorry to let you down, but I’m not a napper Chelsey. I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’ve also never tried asparagus. Sorry to be such a disappointment…BUT I have bookmarked this so I can try asparagus for the first time and at least redeem myself a bit in your eyes I hope
Emma, do it – asparagus is the best. Thing. Ever!
Sorry to hijack your comments Chelsey
Shorter, “power” naps really only work for me when I’m mildly exhausted. After a long day (usually on the weekend because during the week I get home too late for a nap and may as well just go to bed), or when I have a particularly nasty migraine, I have to go with a longer nap. Give me an hour or two, and I wake up refreshed, headache gone, and generally more pleasant to be around.
Thanks for sharing your after-nap dinner, looks tasty!
I took a 3 hour nap for the first time in about forever yesterday!
I used to never nap until my senior year of college. If I didn’t have my two-three hour nap between my morning and afternoon classes, I would feel so sluggish. As much as I love feeling refreshed after a good nap, sometimes I wake up still feeling sluggish, and it makes the day go by even SLOWER!
I used to hate napping until I started working night shift a few weeks ago! Now I usually take an hour nap on the days that I have to work before I go to work! They are really quite enjoyable. Any longer than that and I am discombobulated as well! lol.
I totally think that adults should get nap time at work. It would recharge our batteries and keep us focused and rested
.
The perfect way to power nap is to have a cup of coffee before hand. The caffiene takes 20 mintues to kick in, so you’ll be nice and energized when you wake up. Plus, its like an internal alarm clock.
Enjoy your Sunday! xoxo
I can handle a little power nap here and there, but this is never a regular occurrence. I often feel super groggy after I nap, so most of the time it’s best if I just hold out and not do it at all.
I LOVE the use of the word discombobulated – genius!
And I’m impressed you could make such a good dinner in such a state of discombobulation
I used to be able to nap for England but have completely lost the knack – I just lie there and not sleep! And if I did, I wouldn’t be able to sleep that night – any tips?!
If I nap at all, it throws off my WHOLE day! I always wake up feeling groggy and disoriented.
i am the best sleeper period. which makes me also a good napper. but none of that 20 minute crap. give me more than 2 hours or give me nothing!!!
The pasta looks amazing and I am positive I need it in my life! Thanks for sharing.
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