Read about an expert who recommends offering nap breaks to keep workers safer and boost productivity.
The days of the 8-hour night’s sleep are gone for millions of working Americans. But getting 6 hours or less of shut-eye just isn’t enough for most people to function well and safely on the job.
Sara C. Mednick, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, says a strategic nap is not only restorative but can also make workers safer and more productive.
Mednick, the author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life, says a 20-minute doze resets the system and offers a burst of alertness and increased motor performance.
In contrast to caffeine, naps have been shown to offer both alertness and cognitive improvement without interfering with nighttime sleep. Like exercise, naps help the body and mind recharge.
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Naps Are Catching On
Increasingly, employers are finding that permitting employees to catch a few zzzs while they’re on the clock “is good for business and incredibly lucrative in terms of productivity,” says Mednick. Nap breaks are also considered affordable by employers who offer them.
The benefits are even more significant for people in safety-sensitive jobs in which rest can stave off accidents and injuries.
Napping is also especially important for people who work changing shifts and rarely get the recommended amount of daily sleep, Mednick says. Taking a brief nap before heading to work can be beneficial for shiftworkers.
Mednick points to one study that found in some cases doctors working long hours made 700 percent more errors due to fatigue than those working fewer hours.
Many companies support workplace napping, including Nike, Google, Cisco Systems, and Ben & Jerry’s.
Some offer a quiet room with a couch or special napping pods. Others let employees strap on noise-reducing headsets and nod off for a bit at their workstations.
Now More Than Ever
With longer working hours, longer commutes, and less nighttime sleep, the case for workplace napping is clear, says Mednick.
“There’s no way we can do without sleep. Science has not found a way to replace it with a pill.” Losing sleep causes an array of problems for health, safety, and productivity.
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Don’t Lose Sleep Over Training
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