Napping for a Better World
The Liberating Vision of Tricia Hersey
subverting the narrative of incessant productivity
by embracing rest as a healing spiritual practice
Tricia Hersey Website: Click here.
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Tricia Hersey's "Rest is Resistance" is about the healing power of naps for individuals and for society at large healing from from a social disease that permeates so much of life. This is the disease of thinking:
(1) that life is primarily about productivity and work,
(2) that our bodies are machines whose purpose is to be in service to such work,
(3) that dreaming and imagining have no place in life except in service to work,
(4) that being compulsively busy, to the point of exhaustion, is healthy.
Taken together, these ideas form a narrative that is part of many people's lives. As a result of this narrative, as instantiated in daily life and imposed upon people in countless ways, many people are bone tired much of the time. The practice of napping is a way of taking back our bodies, minds, and spirits.
"Rest is Resistance" is especially relevant to people of color whose bodies have been turned into mere objects for economic productivity, who are themselves exhausted, and whose lives are trapped within the destructive vise of capitalism and white supremacy. "Rest is Resistance" is a book in liberation theology. It draws from the wisdom of enslaved peoples and the descendants of slaves, and it speaks to those who are under the gun of white supremacy and extractive capitalism. It includes the prophetic "no" to oppressive and the prophetic "yes" to possibilities for liberation - a "no" and a "yes" that take the form of intentional napping.
By napping she means physical naps, the kind we might take for 10 to 30 minutes a day, but also resting in general: taking walks, sitting quietly and daydreaming, birding, or reading. She means liberation from grind culture. She does not mean scrolling on a smart phone or engaging with social media.
As a process theologian and Christian influenced by Buddhism, I am drawn to her book. Process theology in its way, and contemplative Christianity in its way, have helped me realize that even the mystery at the heart of the universe, even God, needs a day of rest.
I have always envied the Jewish idea that God commands us to rest on the Sabbath. As a non-Jew (Gentile), I have adopted a similar practice by believing that, on a daily basis, God commands us to take naps. Naps are beneficial for our bodies, minds, and spirit, and they also serve as counter-cultural acts of resistance. They resist the narrative that life is solely about being busy and "productive" in ways that align with marketplace values. When I speak of God's commands, I am referring to God's inwardly felt lures, callings, and beckonings that we sense deep within our existence—callings that often contravene the narrative of compulsive busyness. If you don't believe in God, just speak of these lures as coming from the universe, understood as a friend of life.
In process theology, we are drawn to napping not only for the sake of personal and social well-being but also because napping, and the states of consciousness contained therein, combined with the intention to rest, add to the ongoing life of the universe, otherwise named God. It is a mistake to think that frenetic activity alone adds to God's life, if at all. It is rest, including sleep, that helps God be God, enjoying the Sabbath. Among contemporary theologians, few have seen the prophetic side of napping as clearly as Patricia Hersey, in her nap ministry and her book "Rest and Resistance" (2022).
The purpose of this page is to lift up the work of Hersey and at the end offer, in a semi-playful but semi-serious way, 17 reasons to nap.
- Jay McDaniel
(1) that life is primarily about productivity and work,
(2) that our bodies are machines whose purpose is to be in service to such work,
(3) that dreaming and imagining have no place in life except in service to work,
(4) that being compulsively busy, to the point of exhaustion, is healthy.
Taken together, these ideas form a narrative that is part of many people's lives. As a result of this narrative, as instantiated in daily life and imposed upon people in countless ways, many people are bone tired much of the time. The practice of napping is a way of taking back our bodies, minds, and spirits.
"Rest is Resistance" is especially relevant to people of color whose bodies have been turned into mere objects for economic productivity, who are themselves exhausted, and whose lives are trapped within the destructive vise of capitalism and white supremacy. "Rest is Resistance" is a book in liberation theology. It draws from the wisdom of enslaved peoples and the descendants of slaves, and it speaks to those who are under the gun of white supremacy and extractive capitalism. It includes the prophetic "no" to oppressive and the prophetic "yes" to possibilities for liberation - a "no" and a "yes" that take the form of intentional napping.
By napping she means physical naps, the kind we might take for 10 to 30 minutes a day, but also resting in general: taking walks, sitting quietly and daydreaming, birding, or reading. She means liberation from grind culture. She does not mean scrolling on a smart phone or engaging with social media.
As a process theologian and Christian influenced by Buddhism, I am drawn to her book. Process theology in its way, and contemplative Christianity in its way, have helped me realize that even the mystery at the heart of the universe, even God, needs a day of rest.
I have always envied the Jewish idea that God commands us to rest on the Sabbath. As a non-Jew (Gentile), I have adopted a similar practice by believing that, on a daily basis, God commands us to take naps. Naps are beneficial for our bodies, minds, and spirit, and they also serve as counter-cultural acts of resistance. They resist the narrative that life is solely about being busy and "productive" in ways that align with marketplace values. When I speak of God's commands, I am referring to God's inwardly felt lures, callings, and beckonings that we sense deep within our existence—callings that often contravene the narrative of compulsive busyness. If you don't believe in God, just speak of these lures as coming from the universe, understood as a friend of life.
In process theology, we are drawn to napping not only for the sake of personal and social well-being but also because napping, and the states of consciousness contained therein, combined with the intention to rest, add to the ongoing life of the universe, otherwise named God. It is a mistake to think that frenetic activity alone adds to God's life, if at all. It is rest, including sleep, that helps God be God, enjoying the Sabbath. Among contemporary theologians, few have seen the prophetic side of napping as clearly as Patricia Hersey, in her nap ministry and her book "Rest and Resistance" (2022).
The purpose of this page is to lift up the work of Hersey and at the end offer, in a semi-playful but semi-serious way, 17 reasons to nap.
- Jay McDaniel
Naps: More than Just Naps
For Tricia Hersey, naps are not merely about sleep; they are any activity that fosters a connection between body and mind in a free, relational way. These activities lie outside the traps of compulsive busyness and exhaustion, allowing for genuine rest and rejuvenation. She helps subvert the narrative of incessant productivity by embracing rest as a healing spiritual practice. Examples include:
- Daily Walks: Taking a leisurely stroll to clear the mind and reconnect with the surroundings.
- Birdwatching: Observing birds to cultivate mindfulness and appreciation for nature.
- Cooking: Engaging in the creative and sensory-rich process of preparing meals.
- Daydreaming: Allowing the mind to wander freely, sparking creativity and reflection.
- Gardening: Tending to plants and nurturing growth as a grounding, meditative practice.
- Needlepoint: Practicing the art of needlework to focus the mind and enjoy a tactile hobby.
- Reading for Pleasure: Immersing oneself in a good book to relax and escape into different worlds or ideas.
- Listening to Music: Enjoying music to soothe the soul and create a calming atmosphere.
- Sketching or Doodling: Engaging in casual drawing to express creativity and unwind.
- Meditation: Practicing mindfulness or guided meditation to center the mind and reduce stress.
- Praying: Engaging in prayer to connect with the divine, inner and outer.
NPR Interview with Tricia Hersey
The Nap Ministry
The Nap Ministry, founded in 2016 by Tricia Hersey, explores the liberating power of naps through its "REST IS RESISTANCE" framework. The Ministry combines performance art, site-specific installations, and community organizing to create sacred spaces for communal rest, promoting rest as a radical tool for community healing and addressing sleep deprivation as a racial and social justice issue. They facilitate workshops and curate performance art, with key services including the Collective Napping Experience, which offers sacred communal nap spaces featuring yoga mats, blankets, pillows, soundtracks, rest altars, poetic meditations, and post-nap discussions, all led by Tricia Hersey, known as The Nap Bishop.
The "Rest is Resistance" framework, as articulated by Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, emphasizes the importance of rest and self-care as a form of resistance against oppressive systems, particularly those rooted in capitalism and white supremacy. This framework challenges the societal norms that glorify overwork and productivity, advocating instead for rest as a radical act of reclaiming one's humanity and agency. Here are the key elements of the framework:
In essence, the "Rest is Resistance" framework is a call to reclaim rest as a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for social justice and personal well-being. It encourages a cultural shift towards valuing rest and care, challenging the oppressive norms that deny people the time and space to rest.
The "Rest is Resistance" framework, as articulated by Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, emphasizes the importance of rest and self-care as a form of resistance against oppressive systems, particularly those rooted in capitalism and white supremacy. This framework challenges the societal norms that glorify overwork and productivity, advocating instead for rest as a radical act of reclaiming one's humanity and agency. Here are the key elements of the framework:
- Rest as Liberation: Recognizes rest as a necessary component of liberation. It asserts that everyone has the right to rest and that it is essential for well-being and survival. By prioritizing rest, individuals resist the dehumanizing demands of constant productivity.
- Rejection of Hustle Culture: Opposes the societal pressure to always be busy and productive. It critiques hustle culture, which often leads to burnout and neglect of personal well-being, and encourages people to slow down and prioritize their health and happiness.
- Healing and Restoration: Emphasizes the healing power of rest. It acknowledges that rest can help restore physical, mental, and emotional health, allowing individuals to recover from trauma and stress.
- Community and Collective Care: Encourages a collective approach to rest and self-care. It promotes the idea that communities should support each other in finding time and space to rest, fostering a culture of mutual care and solidarity.
- Deconstructing Capitalism: Highlights the exploitative nature of capitalism, which often values profit over people. The framework calls for a rejection of capitalist ideals that prioritize productivity at the expense of human well-being.
- Historical Context: Places rest within a historical context, particularly for Black people, whose ancestors endured forced labor and exploitation. It acknowledges the intergenerational trauma and the importance of rest as a form of reclaiming stolen time and healing historical wounds.
- Spiritual and Cultural Practices: Integrates spiritual and cultural practices that honor rest. This can include rituals, meditations, and communal gatherings that create spaces for rest and reflection.
- Creativity and Imagination: Views rest as a fertile ground for creativity and imagination. It suggests that taking time to rest can lead to new ideas and innovative thinking, essential for personal and collective growth.
- Resistance to Oppression: Frames rest as an act of resistance against systems of oppression. It posits that by reclaiming rest, individuals assert their humanity and reject the devaluation imposed by oppressive structures.
In essence, the "Rest is Resistance" framework is a call to reclaim rest as a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for social justice and personal well-being. It encourages a cultural shift towards valuing rest and care, challenging the oppressive norms that deny people the time and space to rest.
Napping as Liberation Theology
By integrating rest into our lives, we engage in a form of liberation theology that honors our inherent worth and challenges the societal norms that seek to oppress us.
- Rest as Resistance: Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against white supremacy and capitalism. By prioritizing rest, we challenge the oppressive systems that demand constant productivity and devalue our well-being.
- Our Bodies as Sites of Liberation: Our bodies are a site of liberation. Wherever our bodies are, we can find rest. This act of resting becomes a powerful assertion of our autonomy and humanity, reclaiming the sanctity and dignity of our physical selves.
- The Healing Power of Naps: Naps provide a portal to imagine, invent, and heal. In the quiet moments of rest, we tap into our creativity and resilience, finding new ways to dream and to recover from the relentless pressures of daily life.
- Reclaiming Our Dream Space: Our dream space has been stolen, and we want it back. Through intentional rest, we reclaim this space, carving out time for reflection, restoration, and the pursuit of our dreams.
By integrating rest into our lives, we engage in a form of liberation theology that honors our inherent worth and challenges the societal norms that seek to oppress us.
Resistance
Tricia Hersey, Feb. 21. 2022
"This is about more than naps. This is about more than naps. This is about more than naps.
This has been my battle cry and mantra since I created the “Rest is Resistance” framework in 2016. I begin experimenting with rest as a tool for my own liberation and healing in 2013. It has always been about more than taking a full nap. My rest as a Black woman in America suffering from generational exhaustion and racial trauma always was a political refusal and social justice uprising within my body. I took to rest and naps and slowing down as a way to save my life, resist the systems telling me to do more and most importantly as a remembrance to my Ancestors who had their DreamSpace stolen from them. This is about more than naps. It is not about fluffy pillows, expensive sheets, silk sleep masks or any other external, frivolous, consumerist gimmick. It is about a deep unraveling from white supremacy and capitalism. These two systems are violent and evil. History tells us this and our present living shows this. Rest pushes back and disrupts a system that views human bodies as a tool for production and labor. It is a counter narrative. We know that we are not machines. We are divine.
It is not a joke nor anything to make light of. Black people are dying from sleep deprivation and our resistance to rest is a social justice and public health issue. Capitalism was created on plantations during chattel slavery and is the same system that is driving the entire globe to exhaustion and a deep disconnection with our bodies and minds today. We are no longer divine human beings in this system and instead machines. This is metaphysical, spiritual and political work and anyone who uplifts a message of rest as a form of resistance without tapping into the history of Black liberation and the evils of capitalism is nothing but agent of grind culture. Do not listen. You should instead read texts on Black liberation like: bell hooks, James Cone, Toni Morrison, Katie Cannon, Audre Lorde, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By centering this scholarship you are respecting the work that has influenced and inspired everything about The Nap Ministry. You will begin the process of deprogramming from your brainwashing under grind culture. Go slow. Learn history. Learn your own history. View your body as its own unique technology. Listen"....click here for more.
This has been my battle cry and mantra since I created the “Rest is Resistance” framework in 2016. I begin experimenting with rest as a tool for my own liberation and healing in 2013. It has always been about more than taking a full nap. My rest as a Black woman in America suffering from generational exhaustion and racial trauma always was a political refusal and social justice uprising within my body. I took to rest and naps and slowing down as a way to save my life, resist the systems telling me to do more and most importantly as a remembrance to my Ancestors who had their DreamSpace stolen from them. This is about more than naps. It is not about fluffy pillows, expensive sheets, silk sleep masks or any other external, frivolous, consumerist gimmick. It is about a deep unraveling from white supremacy and capitalism. These two systems are violent and evil. History tells us this and our present living shows this. Rest pushes back and disrupts a system that views human bodies as a tool for production and labor. It is a counter narrative. We know that we are not machines. We are divine.
It is not a joke nor anything to make light of. Black people are dying from sleep deprivation and our resistance to rest is a social justice and public health issue. Capitalism was created on plantations during chattel slavery and is the same system that is driving the entire globe to exhaustion and a deep disconnection with our bodies and minds today. We are no longer divine human beings in this system and instead machines. This is metaphysical, spiritual and political work and anyone who uplifts a message of rest as a form of resistance without tapping into the history of Black liberation and the evils of capitalism is nothing but agent of grind culture. Do not listen. You should instead read texts on Black liberation like: bell hooks, James Cone, Toni Morrison, Katie Cannon, Audre Lorde, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By centering this scholarship you are respecting the work that has influenced and inspired everything about The Nap Ministry. You will begin the process of deprogramming from your brainwashing under grind culture. Go slow. Learn history. Learn your own history. View your body as its own unique technology. Listen"....click here for more.
Wisdom Teachers
from NY Times Book Review
by Melonyce McAfee (Oct. 13, 2022)
Hersey’s point of view was inspired in part by studying “Slave Testimony: Two Centuries of Letters, Speeches, Interviews, and Autobiographies” while working in an archive library at Emory. In reading these stories about the brutal origins of American capitalism, she realized that working to exhaustion was part of her inheritance — passed down through ancestors distant and recent. Her father, Willie, who worked for Union Pacific Railroad while helping to lead a church and devoting time to community activism, rarely took a moment to himself. She is certain that, beyond the heart disease and diabetes that precipitated his early death, it was overwork that killed him at 55.
Hersey was inspired in a different way by her maternal grandmother, Ora. As busy as she was with work and child-rearing, Ora took a half hour each day to shut her eyes and meditate on the sofa — a young Hersey would tiptoe through the house to avoid disturbing her. It was an early lesson in the power of resisting outside demands in service of oneself.
Why Take Literal Naps?
just in case you have some doubts
Physical Benefits:
- Improved Alertness and Performance: Short naps can enhance alertness and performance, providing a quick energy boost.
- Enhanced Memory: Naps help consolidate memories and improve learning by allowing the brain to process information effectively.
- Heart Health: Regular napping may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by lowering stress and promoting relaxation.
- Increased Stamina: Naps restore energy levels, making it easier to complete tasks and activities later in the day.
- Stress Reduction: Napping can reduce stress and improve mood, offering a break from daily pressures.
- Better Cognitive Function: Short naps enhance cognitive functions like problem-solving, reasoning, and creativity.
- Mood Enhancement: Naps can improve mood and reduce irritability and frustration.
- Emotional Regulation: Providing a mental reset, naps aid in emotional regulation, helping manage challenges and interactions more effectively.
- Imagination: Naps stimulate our imagination. During rest, our subconscious mind processes thoughts and experiences, leading to creative insights and new ideas. This period of rest can unlock innovative solutions and foster a deeper connection with our creative spirit.
- Attention: Naps require us to pay close attention to our body’s signals and needs. By tuning into our physical and emotional state, we cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness, enhancing our ability to live in the present moment and respond to our needs with compassion.
- Compassion: Allowing ourselves to nap is an act of self-compassion. It acknowledges that we need rest and recovery, fostering a kind and nurturing attitude towards ourselves. This self-compassion can extend to others, making us more empathetic and understanding of their need for rest.
- Transformation: Naps have the potential to be transformative. They help reset our energy levels, improve our mood, and offer a fresh perspective on our challenges and experiences. This renewal process fosters personal growth and spiritual development, allowing us to approach life with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.
- Divine Guidance: Naps create space in the course of a day for receiving guidance from the divine, aligning with the concept of initial aims in process theology. This quiet time can open us to insights and inspirations that guide our actions and decisions.
- Acts of Resistance: Naps challenge the cultural narrative that we must always be productive. By embracing rest, we recognize the importance of balance and self-care, asserting that our worth is not solely defined by our productivity. This act of rest becomes a powerful statement of resistance against the relentless push for constant activity.
- Work-Life Balance: Naps promote a healthier work-life balance by prioritizing rest and well-being over constant productivity. This encourages a more humane and sustainable approach to work and life.
- Cultural Shift: Embracing naps can contribute to a cultural shift that values well-being and self-care. This shift challenges the norms of overwork and burnout, promoting a society that prioritizes health and balance and challenges the narrative of perpetual productivity as the ultimate goal of life.
How to Practice Literal Napping
- Choose the Right Time: The best time for a nap is usually early afternoon, around 1 to 3 PM. This timing helps to avoid interfering with nighttime sleep.
- Keep it Short: Aim for a nap of 10 to 30 minutes. Short naps can provide the benefits of rest without causing grogginess or affecting nighttime sleep.
- Create a Relaxing Environment: Find a quiet, comfortable place to nap. Use an eye mask or blackout curtains to block out light, and consider earplugs or white noise to minimize disturbances.
- Set an Alarm: To ensure your nap doesn’t last too long, set an alarm for 30 minutes or less. This helps you wake up feeling refreshed and not overly groggy.
- Relax Before Napping: Take a few minutes to wind down before your nap. Deep breathing, meditation, or listening to calming music can help you relax more quickly.
- Consistent Routine: If possible, try to nap at the same time each day. A consistent routine can help train your body to fall asleep more easily during nap time.
- Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body’s signals. If you feel tired, allow yourself to rest. Trust that your body knows when it needs a break.