Tuesday, February 13, 2007

I'm saving my own life!

My good friends at Harvard University just let me in on some great great news: I'm saving my own life! And how am I saving myself? No, I haven't accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and I suppose doing that only promises to save your soul, not your life. I take naps!

"A study that followed more than 23,000 people for six years showed that regular napping can cut deaths from heart disease by as much as 37 percent, providing a benefit in the same order of magnitude as that linked to lowering cholesterol, eating a healthy diet, or exercising."

And what I think I like most about the study is that it was carried out by Dimitrios Trichopoulos, a Greek scientist. The reason I love this fact is that my friend Stelios, a Greek Cypriot, is the biggest advocate of the siesta that I have ever met. You've got a problem? Stelios will advise a siesta. You just ate? He'll tell you to take a siesta? You're nervous? Siesta. It's Tuesday? Siesta. You get the point. This culture appreciates the joy and practicality of the nap.

So do something good for yourself without even feeling guilty -- take a nap!

9 comments:

Maria said...

Ok I will. You win Stelios. Give me 10 big Claire.

skhl said...

I am saving my own life too! That is totally good news. Thanks Claire.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday on Oprah, Dr. Mehmet Oz told us it is impossible to get enough sun NORTH OF ATLANTA GEORGIA in the winter to manufacture the vitamin E we need. Will taking a nap help?
XOX,
Mama

Tasha said...

I have always been a firm believer in the power of naps. Over the summer, I would sometimes leave work early to come home and nap--it was always really quiet in the house, and since I had my window open, I could hear the birds chirping and kids and neighbors calling to each other. It was so peaceful.

skhl said...

It is impossible to make vitamin D north of Atlanta in winter (D for Depressing)! Naps will only help if preceded or followed by gulping down large glasses of Vitamin D enriched milk. Or naps taken in the tropics. Without enough vitamin D you can get rickets or osteoporosis!

Anonymous said...

This is the best news I have heard in years! (friends with Ms. Lewis)

al said...

Fine, you've convinced me. Now, is it still a nap if its, say, three hours?

Anonymous said...

al has a good point, what is the length of a nap? Last night your father and I went to bed at 7:30PM and up this AM at 5. And none of your young-folk Valentine's Day shenanigans. Just plain old ZZZZZZ.
Was that a nap?
Thank you, Dr. Ledley, for the additional Vitamin D info. I like the idea of napping in the tropics!!!
XOX,
Mama

Joyce Chapman, Consultant for Communications & Data Analysis said...

my job is saving my life. napping is one of my main responsibilities here.