Power naps: chose or not to chose?

As I have been thinking and 'practising' power naps over the last few days, I have come across a number of websites defining the notion of napping through the day and listing a number of potential benefits, which apparently have been proven scientifically. Among a few, some of the benefits include: improved memory function, decrease in adrenaline and stress levels, positive mood, ability to focus. Most websites agree that naps should not last more than 30/40 minutes and that ideally they should only last between 10 and 20 minutes.
Well, it sounds simple and like a great idea: I certainly love napping throughout the day, whenever I can and feel the need to do so.
BUT: it is not that easy!
Firstly, when talking about how much I love shutting my eyes, sometimes in random places, and snoozing like a cat, many people react defensively and say "no, no way I can sleep on a bus..." "or on the tube"..."..I feel nervous" or "scared that someone might take my belongings". Other people say that they end up sleeping too much and then feeling worse afterwards....or that they "just can't relax".

I can totally relate to most of what I have heard from others when it comes to 'just letting yourself go', possibly not only in the middle of the day, but also in the middle of some total strangers and maybe in a very unfamiliar environment...no wonder "they just can't relax enough"!!!.

Well, I have not always loved and embraced my naps, which by now I can have either at home, on the sofa during loud late-night parties (like last year's New Year's Eve! LOL), on the bus, on the train, on the tube, over my desk, or on the floor of the therapy room before I see a client. I used to find it very difficult despite  my very heavy eye lids!

As I have developed awareness of myself during the last ten years, I have gradually come to the realization that I was stopping myself from relaxing and letting go, primarily because I was worrying about 'what others might think'.
Every so often that still worries me and certainly there are situations when I chose not to have a nap, because I do care about what that may be perceived like by others around me. Chosing not to allow myself to have a rest and shut down for one, two, five, ten minutes, is however very different from feeling and thinking that "I just can't relax" and "I shouldn't, because it would be rude".  My point is, surely other people's opinion can affect us and can be important to us, but unless I feel that I can chose, I am likely to set up a default system that always dictates "I CAN'T, therefore I shall not have a nap". This default system can become very powerful over time, difficult to change and ultimately not empowering.
I do like to have a choice, or maybe more than one choice, and I am happy to pay the consequences, which often results in people having a laugh when I CHOSE to have a nap on the sofa.....and I am OK with that!