Longing for a 'Nap on the Engawa'... The Engawa is a 'Mental Pharmacy'❗️ The serotonin brought by napping and Japanese-style therapy to relax the five senses✨

The Luxury Called a Boundary (Engawa)

The phrase 'napping on the engawa' carries a mysterious sense of nostalgia and peace.

The engawa is an ambiguous boundary, neither 'inside' nor 'outside' the house...

The sense of security of a room surrounded by walls, and the openness of feeling the greenery and breeze of the garden. Just by placing ourselves in this 'in-between' space, our brains are designed to be released from the daily switching between 'on' and 'off,' allowing our shoulders to suddenly relax😊

In this modern age that demands nothing but efficiency, this 'space that might seem like a waste' is the prime seat for healing the frayed edges of the heart✨

A Natural Remedy Blended by the 'Sun'

When I analyze napping on the engawa in my own way, there are surprisingly logical health benefits to it. (Though the 'in my own way' part is important💦)

First, by bathing in a moderate amount of sunlight, serotonin, known as the 'happiness hormone,' is secreted in the brain✨

Furthermore, sunlight helps synthesize vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient not only for strengthening bones but also for boosting immunity. Though we do have to take UV protection measures for our skin😭

While taking supplements is one way, charging up on natural vitamins while feeling warm and cozy in the sunbeams of the engawa... is there any other health method as pleasant as this?

Rebooting the Brain with a 15-Minute 'Power Nap'

Some people worry, 'Won't I be unable to sleep at night if I take a nap?', but the trick is to keep it to a short nap (power nap) of about 15 to 20 minutes.

The sound of the wind blowing through the engawa, the chirping of birds in the distance, the scent of the tatami rush... if you have tea and sweets there, there is nothing more to ask for❗️❗️

These gentle stimuli become 'background noise' for the brain, preventing you from falling into too deep a sleep while resetting only the brain's fatigue.

When you wake up, the fact that your vision feels suddenly brighter is proof that the energy (ATP) in your brain has been efficiently re-synthesized in a short time. Your concentration for afternoon work or housework should recover dramatically💪

A 'Mental Engawa' for Busy Days

It is difficult to have a real engawa in current housing conditions😭

But you can try putting a chair out on the balcony or opening the curtains by the window to soak up the sunlight. It is possible to create your own 'personal engawa'😁

Please don't think, 'I feel guilty about making time to do nothing.'

The time spent napping on the engawa is a 'mental recharge' to live energetically tomorrow.

Once in a while, take off your watch and let yourself go with the time that flows slowly along with the movement of the sun.

Let's give yourself such an elegant 'nourishment' as a reward✨