Napping at Work? How a Quick Nap Can Increase Employee Productivity.
Did you know that employees lose about 11.3 days of work because of sleep deprivation? A quick nap during the work day – about 20 or 30 minutes – helps to recharge your mind and body. Research finds that naps can help increase alertness, while improving mood and performance.
Follow these tips for a quick nap at work.
- Put down the coffee! Instead of another caffeine fix, choose an afternoon nap to cure your sleepiness.
- Make it quick, but comfy. Lay your head on your desk or find an empty conference room. Set an alarm for 20 or 30 minutes so you wake up.
- Turn off the lights or wear an eye mask to block out any light.
Talk to your boss about creating an office-wide nap time. Companies like Zappos and Huffington Post offer rooms where employees can escape to and take a quick snooze, and employees say they are thriving and doing better work.
Need more evidence that naps are a good office initiative? According to MayoClinic, naps offer these benefits:
- Relaxation
- Reduced fatigue
- Increased alertness
- Improved mood
- Improved performance, including quicker reaction time and better memory
If you do catch a quick nap, you’re in good company. Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison swore by their afternoon naps.
