Lazy Sleeper-iners vs. Productive Nappers

Hello.

We’re just getting back into the swing of things from our Disney Cruise last week. It was a great break and we had so much fun. I’m debating whether to do a cruise post or not right now, but I may throw something together in the next couple of days. I never really saw myself as a cruise person, but they’re actually quite fun and I think a great option for vacationing with young kids.

Anyway, as we were getting back into the routine today I found myself waking up yesterday morning with a start as I knew immediately that I had slept in, but I didn’t know how late it was! Turns out it wasn’t that late and I was actually super-happy to have one of those solid, dead-asleep type of sleeps where I don’t stir all night long. I don’t get that often enough. But here’s the thing, sleeping-in is nothing new to me…in fact, you could say that sleeping-in is my jam. Unfortunately, sleeping-in is not widely considered an “acceptable,”mature” or “grown-up” jam to have. And it’s got me thinking about the idea of sleeping-in vs napping, and frankly I feel like I may have stumbled on to a major conspiracy here. It seems to be universally acknowledged that sleeping-in is associated with laziness and slobbish behavior, whereas napping is associated with productivity and responsibility. I mean just consider the phrase “power-napping.” Are you kidding me?

I am an unapologetic sleeper-iner. I am a night owl both genetically and through years of personal dedication and training. As much as it is in my genes, I believe it also to be the way I was nurtured growing up. It is who I am. (Right now it’s 11:44 pm and I just sat down at the computer for a quick brainstorm session.) I hate to go to sleep, but once I am asleep, I hate to wake up. There have been periods of my life where I went to bed at an earlier time and thus I was able to consistently wake up earlier, but for the most part…I am a sleeper-in’r. In college sleeping-in could easily be until noon. EASILY. Whereas now sleeping in more like 8:30 (on weekends… this morning I “slept in” until 7:40). I will admit that like anything, balance is key and sleeping-in has definitely gotten me in trouble a time or two or twenty. One of my most embarrassing sleeping-in stories was when I was in college and missed my lunch shift at work because I had slept in until 1:00. In the afternoon. From the night before. I’m sure I didn’t go to sleep until 2 or 3 in the morning, but still that was straight up redonks. But regardless, as an adult I do not sleep in to ridiculous hours, but I still love to sleep in.

My husband on the other hand is a napper. He can get up early and on time no matter when he goes to bed, but if he had the opportunity he would nap everyday, and pretty much does nap anytime he has the chance. Almost every weekend he naps both Saturday and Sunday. It is a sad, sad weekend in his world when he doesn’t get a nap. And to be clear, his naps are usually not of the power variety.

But a few years ago our sleeping-in vs. napping personalities clashed and we had a little tussle about it. It was interesting as my husband was feeling frustrated with my sleeping-in and when I mentioned his napping habit, he was a little “so-what?” about it. I pointed out that we both liked getting additional sleep, I just did it differently than he did. I’m not someone who can just fall asleep at the drop of a hat–when I do nap it’s never really planned, it just happens. So for me, it’s just so much easier to sleep a little longer once I am asleep. And in fact napping feels much more obtrusive to me because it’s in the middle of the day! Additionally, I was frustrated because I felt that when he napped I tried to keep the kids quiet and shut the door so he could get some rest his way, but that when I slept-in he wasn’t as quick to reciprocate protecting my sleep and letting me get additional rest my way. Now I feel like we both are more accepting of each other’s additional sleep habits.

Really, I don’t blame him this is a conspiracy! This is a society wide prejudice. Sleeper-in’rs = lazy, Nappers = smart + productive.

Anyone else feel me on this one? Again I will reiterate the need for moderation…I never want to  fall back into my crazy college days of sleeping in until noon, but sleeping-in until 8:30 or 9 should not be considered more lazy than someone who wakes up early but naps 1-2 hours during the day. Should it? Is there something I don’t know? I will admit that there is something nice about getting up early before the kids and getting things done in the wee hours (and I actually want to start getting up early again to work out), but in my world staying up late tends to accomplish the same things. Or does it? Thoughts? Are you pro-nap, pro-sleeping in or neither? Do you think sleeping-in has a worse reputation than napping?