Although we may have abandoned them in kindergarten, naps might be the key to getting the most out of your workday. There is both mounting scientific evidence and anecdotal research that a mid-day nap may actually make you more productive. The benefits of a mid-day snooze include increased alertness, better ability to creatively problem solve, decreased stress and even weight loss.
But napping at work is still controversial. While Spain is thinking of abolishing its siestas to increase working hours, other countries like Japan encourage mid-day “power naps” to help workers get over that post-lunch slump and work more effectively and creatively in the later part of the work day.
If you rely on coffee or sweets to power through your afternoons, try napping instead. The key to waking up from a nap feeling refreshed and alert is timing. Schedule your nap for your own post-lunch dip and nap for 20-30 minutes. During this time you will fall into the first two sleep phases, but not REM sleep. Any longer than this and you may come out of your nap feeling groggy. Post-nap, you will be better able to tackle creative tasks, like generating new marketing campaigns ideas, and precision work, like copywriting and accounting.
More and more offices are creating dedicated quiet spaces for napping and meditation. However, if yours is not one that does, you can use your lunch break to rent out nap rooms in spas and services like DayUse, which rents out luxury hotel rooms only during day hours at a fraction of the price.
Have you tried napping at work? Tell us what you think! If you don’t have time to squeeze in an afternoon siesta, check out our other suggestions for a productive afternoon, by joining the KR TruePrint, your free 5-day roadmap to a more balanced you.
Kalaki Riot
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