Lessons From Dogs… Take Time For Naps

Remember the good old days in kindergarten when we got to lie down on our mats after lunch and have a little rest and quiet time? Wouldn’t that be wonderful to do at work every day? I distinctly remember the feeling of “calm” I felt as we were allowed to get up and put our mats away. The entire room had changed, the energy was soft and quiet… I liked that feeling! Every morning after I feed my dogs, they go outside for a potty break, play for about 10-15 minutes and then go to their favorite spot on the couch or one of the doggie beds and are fast asleep within minutes. Mind you, they have been awake for less than two hours at this point after sleeping all night (and hogging the bed). This is their routine every day, like clockwork, unless some major excitement or disruption emerges in our household. I got the opportunity to see this pattern as I was home with them almost every day for four months last spring while recovering from a broken leg and surgery. I found myself settling in right with them every morning on the couch as I lay there with my leg elevated and iced. We would sleep for almost two hours every day while I recovered. Just like in kindergarten, when I awoke each morning from our nap… I LIKED THAT FEELING! I felt rested and calm, yet energized. I allowed myself to surrender and listened to what my body needed, which was a lot of extra sleep to heal from the trauma. Dogs don’t sleep the way we do; they take a lot of short naps throughout the day. As predators, they are genetically designed this way. These short bursts of sleep help them recharge their […]

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