How can an afternoon nap be good for business?

As soloists, our resources are tighter than ever. We don’t have time to take a nap. Our clients depend on us; they expect us to be efficient, responsive and, well, awake. So taking a nap during work hours is not professional behaviour...or is it?

The 'power nap' catchphrase tried to help the snooze cause. Perhaps it's best remembered because of its amusing contradiction, rather than interpreting it as permission to siesta en masse.

Many internationally acclaimed high-flyers are openly declared anti-nappers. Donald Trump says "If you want to be a billionaire, sleep as little as possible." Meanwhile Tony Robbins recommends replacing the urge to nap with press-ups.

Alternatively, countries like Spain and Portugal have assumed for centuries that taking a siesta is normal. But do we really need hot weather to justify it? Some corporations in the US and Japan have recently embraced the call, providing napping rooms for employees in the hope that it will ultimately create a more alert workplace and, therefore, increase profits.

It appears that science is on their side. Many studies have found that napping benefits the heart, hormones and cell repair. More specifically, napping can help with memory retention; lift mood and lower stress levels.

Below are some tips I’ve gleaned from these studies that might help you to nap ‘successfully’.

Ten tips for the perfect nap

Keep the nap to 20 minutes or less otherwise you wake in deep ‘slow-wave’ sleep which will make you feel sluggish and unfocused
Lose the guilt remember that napping helps productivity
Nap just after lunch and avoid late afternoons, that’s when you are more likely to fall into slow-wave sleep (that sluggish problem again)
Eat foods that are high in calcium and protein as they help the sleep process
Don’t consume a lot of caffeine or fatty/sugary foods before napping.
Exercise helps but finish at least 30-60 minutes pre-nap.
Find a quiet and preferably dark place where you won’t be disturbed.
Use a blanket as body temperature drops when you fall asleep
Set your alarm. You may find after practicing this for a while, you might not need it due to natural body-clock rhythms.
Stick to your napping ritual, do it automatically and it’s less to think/stress about

If you don’t fall asleep within ten minutes after a month of trying, feel free to give up napping for good. It’s not for everyone.

And before you judge those who like forty winks, ‘great nappers’ include: Winston Churchill, Napoleon, J. F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Bill Gates.

So enjoy your nap – you’re in good company.

Megan Hills is a freelance writer and editor who enjoys helping others be engaging and understood. Through her marketing, publicity and graphic design nous, she can maximise the power of what you want to communicate to the people you want to reach.

4 comments | Add your own

Megan I am a confirmed napper - (ahem, however I am also a very early riser- 4am). I totally believe where possible (for me, about 4 days a week in my 7 day compulsive schedule) a nap in the early pm revives intellect and creativity, feels ridiculously luxurious ... and so relieves the soloist's feeling that all they ever do is work ... and I find I enjoy the rest of the day immensely, with good productivity. Lifestyle control is a big issue for soloists I think, and I actually often take two hours out of the day for the "light meal/nap/etc" indulgence. I don't find the length of this "lunch break" lowers productivity at all. Interestingly, no matter how hard one works though, this sort of behaviour would usually be seen as self-indulgent, wouldn't it??!! Karen Dempster - Creating Change from Victoria
I started napping when my second child was born - I needed the sleep to cope with a toddler, newborn & business, and still have naps. I find that I am much more productive, rather than stressing to get things done when I'm exhausted. Melissa from Melbourne, Australia
Way back in the 1950's the manager of the pharamaceutical company I worked for was a great advocate for the "Power Nap". His grandfather, a country doctor claimed it was what kept him going during the long hours he put in with patients and his hospital work. Jim Cook from Camden
I find napping invaluable for that added freshness and mental spark during the day. (I am a night owl) Tip: if you can, nap in bed, So you won't end up on your keyboard like the guy in the pic (which I have done, tho only in the privacy of my own home). :) Zern Liew from eicolab | Read my articles

4 comments | Add your own

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