Would a Daily Power Nap Make You More Productive?

It’s not surprising that most Americans are not getting the nighttime sleep they need to function efficiently during the day. Less than 25% of all Americans get eight or more hours of sleep per night.

Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can cause changes in levels of critical hormones including those that regulate appetite and food intake, causing the sleep deprived individual to consume more food, particularly those high in carbohydrates. This can result in unwanted weight gain which is something most Americans don’t need. If people no longer have the time to get eight hours of sleep per night, would a brief daily nap be of benefit?

Studies suggest that a daily nap that’s less than thirty minutes in duration may decrease stress levels and make the person who naps more productive. This may be due to alterations in the level of particular hormones that are thought to be associated with regulating stress such as cortisol.

A nap of longer than 30 minutes is discouraged due to the possibility of causing sleep inertia, that groggy feeling you get when you sleep too long. This occurs when you enter a deeper state of sleep and are awakened prematurely.

Studies also show that a brief nap can increase productivity. For this reason, some companies are now allowing their employees to indulge in a brief nap during the day in order to increase their overall productivity.

Unfortunately, our hardworking country doesn’t put a premium on napping with many employers associating a daytime nap with laziness. The perception seems to be different in European countries where large companies actively encourage their employees to break for a twenty minute nap.

Even if an employer doesn’t allow a designated nap time, employees may still have the option of taking a brief nap in their car during lunch hour Another potential option is to use twenty minutes at lunch time to do some deep meditation which may also help to decrease stress and increase work time productivity.

Sometimes shutting the office door with eyes closed and deep breathing exercises can have a similar effect to a midday power nap if no other options are available. These short breaks can also lower cortisol levels which play such an important role in stress is handled.

Will the midday nap ever become an important part of the work day in America? As more studies show the benefits of power napping on worker productivity, it’s likely that employers will stand up and take notice.