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Napping at work could make you a better employee

The case for sleeping at your desk. - by Laura Barry
  • 16 Mar 2020

WATCH: How to reset your sleep cycle after the holiday season

It’s safe to say that very few people make time to take an afternoon nap at work. If we were caught, it’s likely our bosses would be less than impressed with our antics. However, studies show that catching some shuteye while at work may just be the key to being a better person and more productive employee.

In fact, A study conducted by the University of Colorado in Boulder found that Toddlers who miss their naps are more anxious and struggle to solve problems more than those who nap every day, and that this actually carries over to our adult lives.

sleeping at work
Getty

Taking a nap can improve your performance at work, a theory supported by a 1995 study conducted by NASA, which found that pilots who napped an average of just 26 minutes per day improved performance by 34 per cent.

Another study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience found that the perceptual performance of people progressively deteriorated throughout the day, but this performance deterioration was stopped simply by taking a 30-minute nap. Those who took a 60-minute nap completely reversed it.

Furthermore, Sara Mednick, a co-author of the study and associate professor of psychology at the University of California, told the New York Times that a nap can help with your memory, creative thinking, help you learn, improve alertness and cut through mind fog. It’s a win-win situation for both you and your employer.

man sleeping under desk
Getty

And if you’re wondering if a steaming hot cup of coffee might do the trick instead, it won’t. A study conducted in 2008 found that a nap is better than caffeine when it comes to improving verbal memory, motor skills, and perceptual learning.

But it isn’t just your workplace that benefits from you taking naps. Napping regularly can reduce your risk and frequency of falling ill, it can reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, and it can reduce inflammation in the body. Better yet, scheduling in a siesta at least three times a week can reduce your risk of death from coronary disease by 50%, plus it can reduce fatigue, boost positive thinking and improve mood. 

So, if you find yourself nodding off at work, it might be time to book one of those quiet little meeting rooms and have an uninterrupted snooze for half an hour.

You might also like:

Study finds negative thinkers are more likely to have poor quality of sleep 

Study finds sleeping in may help you live longer 

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Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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