Rest is an important part of health, and we at Backfire Chiropractic want to know if you are getting all you need. As it turns out, it can make a huge difference in your workday. A recent article in Inc. (“Should Your Employees Take Naps?” August 12, 2011) explores the lengths to which some businesses are now going to ensure that employees fall asleep on the job… in a good way.
From tech companies to manufacturing companies, small businesses and large alike are providing the time—and even office “napping” rooms—so that employees can have an optimal 15-minutes of shut-eye during work hours, which research shows can boost productivity and fight fatigue.
Sleep expert and Cornell social psychologist James Mass, famous for coining the term “power nap” 36 years ago, was cited in the article as recommending this short block of time as the ideal amount:
“Maas says there’s a neurological reason power naps work. Though an EEG pattern—which measures the flow of electricity in the head—shows wakefulness while a person is excessively tired, the neurons involved in memory can be turned off, he says. [...] Simply put, even though you’re awake, your brain isn’t. (A longer 30-minute or 60-minute nap, on the other hand, puts a person in Delta—or deep—sleep, he explains, which leaves the person groggy upon waking up.)”
While Google, Ben & Jerry’s and NASA are some of the big names mentioned that endorse napping at work for increased productivity, the article also focuses on the smaller companies that have been persuaded by sleep research to accommodate employees with new facilities designed for catnaps.
Whether you are an employer or an employee, we think it’s a good idea to consider the 15-minute “power” nap as part of your healthy—and productive—workday.
Backfire Chiropractic provides natural, effective health care services in a comfortable, relaxing environment. Whether you’re coming in to see our expert chiropractors, licensed massage therapists or professional acupuncturist, our goal is to make you feel right at home.
