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Napping at Work
We have received a lot of questions asking for our collective opinion on a story that recently appeared in BusinessWeek entitled, Napping Your Way to the Top. The story features a Q&A with sleep scientist Sara Mednick in which she praises the midday work nap as a natural productivity booster.
I think we first need to address the work-related conditions contributing to America's endemic lack of substantive sleep. In a business environment where connectivity is key and more workers are tethered to the office via their various "smart" gadgets, there is no such thing as leaving your stressful workday at the office. Nowadays, a "bad day at the office" follows you home and taunts you with incessant bleeps and blinks. It's no wonder we aren't getting enough sleep. Employers and employees alike must decide for themselves when their individual work day ends and leave work AT work.
Since that isn't always possible, we would agree that ANY form of (legal) workday rejuvenation, be it a "venti" java from Starbucks, a run around the block or yes, a quick power-nap is A-OK. The fact of the matter is, tired workers make for tired companies. A recent survey of a Global 500 organization's workforce by wellness program consultancy Vielife, showed that surveyed employees were ineffective an average 25% of their time at work as a result of preventable health risks caused by poor eating and sleeping habits. This loss in productivity was costing the organization approximately $2,800 per employee every year.
So, while we first recommend addressing the larger issues keeping you up at night, we can't argue with the business case for letting workers catch some Z's during their lunch hour.
Posted by Brent Short on December 8, 2006 at 1:17 PM
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Comments
I can't help but think that there is something seriously wrong with sleeping on the job, and a sign that we are turning into lazy workforce. Even it is supposed to be a perk for better productivity, I just have a hard time believing that today's workers are lacking sleep any more than workers in the past, and need to take "power naps" in the middle of the work day.
Posted by S. Carter on December 10, 2006 12:31 PM
I don't think this is a sign that workers are more lazy today. Rather, I this may be a result of the increased demands placed on them.
Do I take power naps? No. Have I wanted to? Maybe every once in a while.
But I do know that some people catch a few Z's in their car during lunch and I am not bothered by it. When they returned to work, they were a bit more fresh and certainly more productive.
Posted by Brent Short on December 10, 2006 11:12 PM
The original blogs mentions a key point: "We can't argue with the business case for letting workers catch some Z's during their lunch hour." Note when most workers are choosing to take naps. Not during morning meetings or conference calls (Read: WORK TIME). Rather, they are choosing to either not eat lunch or to grab a very quick meal in order to nap on their own time and feel more refreshed, which often results in more productivity.
I am a big advocate of quick "Power Naps." These are not the kind you take on lazy Sunday afternoons; rather, they are the quick 15-minute kind my former college roommate told me about, and I never believed her when she said they worked....until I mastered the art of one.
While some may consider their co-workers who lightly nap in the front seat of the car at noon to be lazy, others realize the value behind having colleagues who are less likely to miss details and who help keep the energy up at the office. I encourage you all to try it at some point. But be warned, set your cell phone alarm clock and don't set it for more than 20 minutes, or you'll sleep too deeply and be less productive than before!
Posted by Phoenix Powers on December 28, 2006 9:36 AM
I think that if someone wants to take a nap on the job it is fine. They need to hide somewhere though, like in the bathroom, the car, the broom or supply closet, or under a desk. Just don't get caught. Because if you do, its lights out, especially at your house.
Posted by nikki on December 29, 2006 2:44 PM
I linked to this post in my latest post. You provided wonderful advice. If you like the post, we'd appreciate a linkback.
Best,
Jane
http://www.careerramblings.com/2007/02/02/the-importance-of-balance-for-work-and-home/
Posted by Jane on February 2, 2007 10:16 PM