TAKE A NAP

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

I have always been jealous of those people who could sit in a chair, shut their eyes and nap for 20 to 30 minutes, wake-up and feel very refreshed. My dad could do it, so could my grandmother, my son and daughter-in-law reap the benefits often.

I just can’t seem to get with it. If I go to sleep for 30 minutes and awaken, then I’m tired and sluggish for the rest of the day.

However, I seem to be the exception. Sleeping on the Job (check out this article on businessweek.com), seems to be catching on. A growing number of companies are encouraging employees to nap… at work.

It seems Americans are getting less sleep at night (averaging less than 7 hours per night) and according to a recent Stanford Study, many companies have turned to the humble nap to increase productivity. Google, a leader for employee perks, has a number of futuristic napping pods scattered around its Mountain View, California campus (pictured above).

This might be just the thing for busy season. Here are the Do’s and Don’ts of Dozing (from the article):

Make time and space – - 20 to 30 minutes are all you need to reap the rewards of midday slumber. The best time is the early afternoon – so consider a 1/2 hour lunch and the second 1/2 hour for napping.
Set the proper conditions – - In the dark our brains produce more of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, so close the blinds and turn off the lights.
Careful with the chemicals – - avoid caffeine for a few hours before a nap. The same goes for nicotine, diet pills, etc.