A nap is typically intended to enhance or complement a nighttime sleep, but it is often overlooked as an effective tool to get more rest.
Scientists have found that people who nap have better word recall – a sign of good memory.
Another study found that as little as eight minutes of sleep during the day was enough to significantly improve memory, increase cognitive processing, decrease errors, and enhance stamina to maintain attention to difficult tasks later in the day.
Other research studies have confirmed that shorter naps result in greater alertness and better performance, a significant benefit for people whose job involves driving or monitoring complex and critical systems.
Napping Culture Around the World
Napping is considered a normal behavior in many cultures.
In Japan, where people sleep the fewest hours at night due to their busy work schedule and lifestyle, napping is strongly encouraged. Inemuri, which means “being present while asleep” is the practice of napping whenever you can. Whether at work, on the bus or in between meetings, inemuri encourages resting your eyes, even for a very short period of time.
The riposo, in Italy, uti in Iceland and wushui in China are all forms of a quick afternoon nap to relax and recharge for the rest of the day. Mid-day siesta in Spain and Mediterranean countries may be the most famous of all naps around the world.
Advocating for a Nap-Friendly Workplace
With its numerous benefits proven scientifically, napping as a restorative activity is gaining more and more traction around the world. Companies like Google, Nike and Uber offer a nap-friendly environment to their employees. These corporations recognize the positive business implications of a short mid-day nap to increase employees’ well-being leading to enhanced productivity and quality of work.
Leaders’ Role in Modeling Resting Behavior
Squeezing a brief nap post-lunch may be enough to satisfy the rest needs of an individual. As mentioned, even an eight-minute-long nap can significantly boost cognitive processing. However, a nap is not meant to be an alternative to lost sleep. So, it is critical for leaders to model prioritizing good resting behavior including uninterrupted and high-quality night-time sleep. As a leader, even if you fail to get sufficient sleep yourself, you should be careful not to promote or brag about the behavior.
Implementation
Not only does a relaxation strategy promote the wellness and productivity of the employees, but it also helps increase employee satisfaction. Leaders should consider implementing workplace policies for restful activities like napping.
1. Education Is Key
To promote a new napping policy, leaders must provide clarity around questions like: “Why do I need a nap?”, “How long should we nap?”, “Where should we nap?”, “When should we nap?”
Finding answers to these questions requires that everyone within the organization collaborates effectively and communicates openly with each other. Reaching out to a deeper level of expertise both from within and outside the company helps create the right balance. Adopting this approach ensures that the company is on the right track to achieving its cultural shift objectives.
2. Create a "Pro-Rest Culture"
Leaders must reinforce rest and integrate it into the company’s wellness culture. For example, they must encourage that mid-day breaks be dedicated to restorative activities, not intense project meetings. Frequently eschewing rest by leaders and team members will be modeled as an exemplary behavior, negatively impacting the organization as a whole. Leaders must also create a follow-through mechanism to ensure that everyone would do what is needed to promote a nap-positive culture. Short online surveys and quick hallway conversations to ask questions are great ways to gauge the effectiveness of the initiatives and incorporate improvements, if needed.
3. Identify and Allocate Resources
Leaders should allocate resources and space to promote the culture of resting and relaxation. Investing in sleeping masks, blankets or napping pillows is an excellent way to demonstrate that employee wellness is a priority within the organization.
In our fast-paced world, many people are suffering from sleep-deprivation and lack of rest. The consequences of chronic exhaustion include compromised mental and physical health. Leaders must step up to push for a pro-nap culture, particularly in industries where roles are becoming more challenging. When corporations help upgrade individuals’ sleep by encouraging them to take a daily nap, even as short as eight minutes, they’ll experience the benefits on employees’ health, wellness, productivity, as well as levels of fulfillment and success in employees’ life. For organizations and leaders, this is a major step to create a healthy and trusting environment where employees can thrive.
Treat yourself to a nap! You deserve it!