It's been a few years, so I think it's safe to reveal just how I managed to stay somewhat sane as IBM's webmaster: I napped in the middle of the day.

Sometimes it was at my desk, sometimes I'd zip home for "lunch" (it was a 10 minute walk across Battery Park). Once I got my own office it was much easier to shut the door and doze, only problem being my not-too-subtle snoring. Alex seemed to tolerate it except for the moments when the snoring would bleed through the paper thin wall between our offices and into his conference calls.

Anyway, three articles on napping: Marginal Revolution: The economics of napping Here in Buenos Aires they use naps as a means of abolishing ordinary sleep.

Via Marginal Revolution: Naptime a long paean to napping includes these morsels: Example for today: napping. I've been on vacation for the last week. On not one of these days have I failed to take a nap -- and each one of these naps has been a blissful indulgence, as luscious and glorious as the best wine, a perfect afternoon on the beach, bittersweet chocolate, or a hot-'n'-heavy make-out session

Dozing off for an hour or two in the middle of the day is, IMHO, yumminess itself. I view napping not as a failing or a problem, let alone as a way to prepare for my next great accomplishment. I view it instead as a pleasure to be pursued for its own sake, right up there with art, sex, travel, friendship, and love.

Many Americans are addicted to the idea that if only they could clear the desk of all outstanding chores, they'd explode with shiney and dazzling energy. But what if you discovered that what the moment really holds for you is fatigue? The possibility can apparently be quite a threat to the American go-getting ego.

Lots more links there as well to other sites touting the midday nap, the power nap, the post lunch nap. Personally I was in favor of a nap after every escalation, though that would mean I'd sleep most of the day.

Via Daniel W. Drezner comes word that the Spanish government has all but outlawed the traditional siesta. I'd post a quote but the Financial Times' site seems to be ill at the moment.

I came to napping midday mostly out of exhaustion. The last year I was at ibm.com I would roll into work at 7:00 a.m. I'd have at most an hour before the onslaught started: redirect this URL, approve this site, how the @)(!@# did this show up on an IBM web site?, who the @#!()# are you to tell me you can't approve a .java top level domain?, and so forth. By midday I'd have been on two or three conference calls (occasionally mastering the art of being on two calls simultaneously, I'm sure there's others who are better at that). I'd work at the office until 7:00 or so, then head home. After a brief dinner, I'd end up online again until midnight.

And people wonder why I have not jumped at chances to rejoin Corporate America.

Anyway, I found a 20-30 minute nap midday to be refreshing: clearing my head and resetting me for the afternoon's troubles.