Apparently, not everyone is able to nap.
I’m not sure whether this is a hard-wired situation, or simply a case of habit. Regardless, there’s a whole bunch of people missing out on the great benefits of napping.
It turns out, being able to nap is a good predictor of behind able to sleep while travelling. And despite how good the inflight entertainment, no-one actually enjoys long-haul flights. Sleeping is the simple way to shorten your travel time! And possibly help with jetlag. Nappers travel better,
If you have children, your day can start at 5am and then be continually emotionally and physically demanding all the way through until 8pm. No-one has the stamina to do that day-in and day-out. Being able to make the most of any nap-time, no matter how short, is a straight-up survival skill.
And finally, who doesn’t like lying down, being warm and comfy, and just enjoying the moment fully. Even if you don’t fall asleep, it’s nice just to rest every so-often.
The key is timing. Limit naps fo 5 - 20 minutes (or even a 30-second rest of the eye can work wonders), or commit to a full 1.5 hours. Wake up after an hour: grumpy for the rest of the day. Power through 3 hours: You’re probably not going to be able to get to sleep that night.
*Everything in this post is anecdotal. But if you know/have related science, send it to me!