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Announcements Mar 27, 2026 at 2:58 PM

The Spanish have the right idea

Posted by WhereInSussex

An afternoon nap is the ultimate adulting-day win. I came to this conclusion some years ago and stand by "if you can't schedule your day to have a nap, you need to reschedule your day ! (obviously this isn't achievable every day, but even 20 mins makes a difference)
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Yink-Dinkers Mar 27, 2026 +31
you have to think how many less chaotic incidents would occur if everyone had a mid-day nap
31
WhereInSussex Mar 27, 2026 +13
At work we were once told about the importance of naps for fatigue management. But also told no napping at work! 🤣
13
Lietenantdan Mar 27, 2026 +4
That's how many jobs are. "Stay hydrated! But no water in your work area. And no breaks to drink water."
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Scott43206 Mar 27, 2026 +6
And less cranky adults in general. 🤣
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Great_Chipmunk4357 Mar 27, 2026 +17
That’s really a Mediterranean custom going all the way back to the ancient Romans. Italians also shut down in the afternoon. Siesta comes from the Latin “sextā horā,” “at the sixth hour.” In their way of telling time, that was the early afternoon.
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CaptHowdy34 Mar 27, 2026 +8
I have colleagues in Spain and not everyone does the siesta. I'd imagine it'd be annoying at times though because you might only have a small window to run some errands, but can't because the stores closed for a few hours in the middle of the day.
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ImpressedStreetlight Mar 27, 2026 +5
I don't think we nap any more than people in other countries, it's just an stereotype. The typical break hours in the middle of the day are just to have lunch, not related to siesta at all, and also because traditionally businesses close around 8 pm so you need a break in the middle of the day or else you would be working 12 hours straight. Also, in southern Spain, the middle of the day is very hot so it makes sense to have breaks then in order to protect workers from the heat. The "having a small window to run errands just around when stores close" is universal since people tend to have the same working hours as the places they want to run errands in.
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CaptHowdy34 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Yeah that all makes sense. I'm more talking if we somehow tried to implement here in the states like OP was talking about. It'd be chaos.
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_StuckInTheMud_ Mar 27, 2026 +6
Don't say this to Jon Bernthal
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WhereInSussex Mar 27, 2026 +10
If he doesn't like it, he can come here and discuss it with me. Just not between 2 and 3.
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imtheonlyladybug Mar 27, 2026 +1
Lol
1
Scott43206 Mar 27, 2026 +5
I've gone back fully to a per-industrialized sleep pattern, otherwise I'd max out at a very unhealthy 3-4 hours a night, my body just won't stay asleep any longer. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphasic\_sleep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphasic_sleep)
5
SouthCotton1979 Mar 27, 2026 +3
This is very interesting
3
poppinwheelies Mar 27, 2026 +3
Preaching to the choir, bro. I've been taking siestas for years (it helps that I'm self-employed).
3
NotEnoughRocks1977 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Totally agree. I started a job where I make my own schedule and I almost never wake up to an alarm anymore and I take an hour nap almost every day. Happiest I've ever been in my life.
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BackgroundEye0208 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Here in the Philippines, our parents used to require us back when we were kids to sleep during the afternoon and call it “syesta”. As a kid, we hated it. We usually pretend to sleep and sneak out. But as an adult, I would really love to go back and sleep the hell out of my syesta!
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Mikon_Youji Mar 27, 2026 +2
It takes me 20 minutes just to fall asleep, so my nap would be more like 2 hours.
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smurfthesmurfup Mar 27, 2026 +1
If you take a nap in the day (or just close your eyes for 20 mins, relax as much as possible and let your mind wander), you will likely sleep better at night. Relaxing your body and letting your mind wander is actually 90% of what sleeping is all about, so probably worth doing even if you don't fall asleep.
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Mikon_Youji Mar 27, 2026 +1
I've taken naps before during the day and it doesn't help. I've also tried melatonin and sleeping tablets and natural remedies too. Some people just take a while to fall asleep no matter what.
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Worldly-Criticism-91 Mar 27, 2026 +2
When i was in Spain, i always looked forward to this! Businesses shut down & everything!
2
Ok_Actuator1554 Mar 27, 2026 +2
Have woke up from a gorgeous 35 min snooze on the sofa. Time for a cuppa before making dinner!
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CommunityGlittering2 Mar 27, 2026 +1
20 mins, I'm taking at least 2 hrs
1
hmm_nah Mar 27, 2026 +1
It seems cool until you realize your 9-5 just became 8-6 to accomodate a 2-hour break.
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mynameisnotsparta Mar 27, 2026 +1
Most southern European countries and the people have the middle of the day break. My SIL had a 3 hour break from 1 pm to 4 pm and in summer she’d go to the beach straight from work for 1 hour and have her packed lunch there. Then home for an hours nap and then up and back to work from 4 pm to 7 pm.
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Randeth Mar 27, 2026 +1
Yep, for me 20 minutes around 2pm does wonders for my energy level. I now have a "meeting" scheduled most days around then.
1
BeetHovenV Mar 27, 2026 +1
Lml yeah true I love taking naps in the afternoon to regain energy for the rest of the day
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7YM3N Mar 27, 2026 +1
I work 6-2 and I have a nap after I get home, 1 or 2 hours, then my main sleep is 5-7 hours, so I get around 8 per day
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Unlikely-Sky6935 Mar 27, 2026 +1
My narcolepsy and naps don’t mix well lol
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Eff-Bee-Exx Mar 27, 2026 +1
I used to take nap at lunch every day; a 5 minute drive to a nearby empty parking lot, a 15 minute snooze, 5 minutes to wake up and get ready-oriented, and 5 minutes back to the office. It made more of a difference than half a dozen cups of coffee would have.
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SecretAngel77 Mar 27, 2026 +1
Anap is a must for me lol
1
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