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| Taking "a good 5 to 20-minute power nap", according to study, is believed to promote better heart functioning, more creativity, more motivation to exercise, better cognitive functioning, stress reduction, and increased alertness. |
In this day and age, almost everyone is having a problem of not getting enough sleep. According to a survey by the Sleep Foundation, Americans sleep six hours and 55 minutes a night every week. A similar survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics “American Time Use Survey” that working persons aged 25 to 54 years old slept 7.7 hours a night. According to the Sleep Foundation there is no magic number for the ideal sleep.
However, napping during the day is increasingly gaining appeal even in the working place. Business giants such as Google and Nike are reportedly have set up napping areas for workers and executives. They believed that this will rejuvenate their employees and makes them more active and creative.
But does it pay off? Experiments conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have shown that a midday snooze or noontime siesta “reverses information overload”. The study stated “New experiments by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grantee Alan Hobson, M.D., Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., and colleagues at Harvard University show that a midday snooze reverses information overload and that a 20 percent overnight improvement in learning a motor skill is largely traceable to a late stage of sleep that some early risers might be missing. Overall, their studies suggest that the brain uses a night's sleep to consolidate the memories of habits, actions and skills learned during the day.”
But does it pay off? Experiments conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have shown that a midday snooze or noontime siesta “reverses information overload”. The study stated “New experiments by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grantee Alan Hobson, M.D., Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., and colleagues at Harvard University show that a midday snooze reverses information overload and that a 20 percent overnight improvement in learning a motor skill is largely traceable to a late stage of sleep that some early risers might be missing. Overall, their studies suggest that the brain uses a night's sleep to consolidate the memories of habits, actions and skills learned during the day.”
The nap movement has led to a nap products and services industry. Google uses a product called the EnergyPod, essentially a recliner with a cover resembling the fat end of an eggshell that comes down over the head and trunk of the napper. It's equipped with a Bose sound system, and has a nap timer at the end of which one taking a nap is "gently awoken with a combination of lighting and vibration."
To prepare for a proper nap, take time to note these:
• Give yourself permission; no, you're not being lazy.
• Nap in the morning (as long as your boss allows) or just after lunch - works better with our normal sleep rhythms.
• Moderate or eliminate your caffeine intake, as well as heavy or sugary foods. Try foods high in protein and calcium.
• Find a quiet, warm nook. Turn off the lights if you can, or wear an eyeshade.
• Be sure to set an alarm (if at work). Shoot for 20 minutes for a traditional power nap.
