Some days go by, and believe it or not, I do not get time to sit in my “Comfy Chair” and miss one or more of my daily naps. Actions have consequences. When I do not get my power naps, I get tired, and my thinking ability slows down. Some might say I get “Grumpy” or even “Sleepy” like two of the “Seven Dwarfs” from the fairy tale “Snow White!” So the thought occurred to me does napping increase productivity? It certainly does increase my productivity!
According to the National Sleep Foundation, one 40-minute nap improves productivity by 34%. They recommend 30 minutes or less. A study by NASA found that napping improves work memory. The recommended time is between 1 and 3pm to take your power nap. Spain is famous for napping, called siesta and the entire company shuts down to nap. Some companies promote napping, Ben & Jerry’s, Cisco, Zappos, Nike, and Uber ( Not while driving customers). Several companies in Japan offer mid-day naps to their employees. Some offer sleep cafes.
The US Government not only frowns on napping at work, but they also banned it! New studies may cause a reversal of this policy as the data shows increased productivity. I’m not suggesting that the Government occasionally makes incorrect decisions, but this time maybe they do.
From my personal experience, naps improve the quality of my life, reinvigorate my motivation to accomplish things, and keep my brain focused on positive thinking. I find it reduces my coffee & food intake ( I cannot eat or drink anything while sleeping.) For example, I will cut the grass mid-morning on a hot summer day, head back into the house, take a quick shower, and take my 20-minute nap. When it starts to cool down in the early evening, I have the energy to go out and do some weeding or trimming. My nap time seems to commence after 1:00n to 3;30 pm. It’s like putting me on a charger; I wake up and get stuff done until I get tired again and need another nap. Basically, I get tired, work, I get retired, and I nap again. Is this a new definition of “Retired?” Excuse me, it’s time for my nap! I could keep on writing, but I think instead, I’m going to stop writing and take a nap!
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 05/8/2022 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
