October 22, 2006
Power Nap makes difference in productivity
The Mediterranean countries got it right. Whether you call it the catnap, catchgrabforty winks, dozing, or the siesta, the afternoon snooze is so much more than a brief rest, it is a way of life.
It is in the opinion of this much-sleep-deprived writer that naps are the source behind the relaxed and joyous Mediterranean lifestyle, and it is about time that Canadians adopted it too. Otherwise, they may end up paying its price… with their life!
When I was sixteen, a friend of mine told me that humans can live longer without food but with sleep, rather than the other way around. That comment has since stuck with me, and there is plenty of evidence to prove it. There are many well documented studies relating the benefits of a siesta to a healthier, more productive life. Recent MRI’s of nappers show that their intellectual performance and brain activity stays high throughout the day, while that of non-nappers declines. But how is it possible for those who take away from their work hour to sleep, to get more done than those of their non-napping comrades? The answer lies in human biology.
The human biological clock is set for more than 24 hour days, therefore, the body goes through rest cycles. Generally around , the body releases hormones requiring it to rest. Failure to do so will result in an impairment of judgment, performance, and alertness. According to a study held by Dr. Landrigan of the United States Health Institute, residency interns working the traditional schedule, made 36% more errors, than those of which had the opportunity to rest and nap. Traditional interns also had twice the rate of attention failures.
How important is an afternoon rest? Let’s put it this way, a 20 minute nap in the afternoon has more restorative qualities than sleeping 20 minutes longer in the morning. Though one hour naps have more restorative qualities than 20 minute ones, doctors suggest that napping anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes can heighten performance. Interestingly enough, many Japanese offices provide their employees napping rooms or desk pillows as part of a study to examine the benefits of napping on productivity- so far, the conclusion has been positive.
Sleep deprivation is tied into a number of negative symptoms including bad memory, exhaustion, excessive stress (just look at investment bankers), lack of motivation, and stunted growth! Yes, a lack of sleep and napping leads to a stunted growth, because all body development and growth spurts take place only when we are asleep. So for those who feel vertically challenged, it is not too late to catch up on some Z’s and reverse the trend.
So besides the health benefits and better productivity, why should Canadians adopt a siesta? First off, some of the greatest minds were self-proclaimed nappers and contributed much of their innovation and ideas to sleep, including Einstein, Da Vinci, Eidson, and Margaret Thatcher. In fact, Nobel laureate Otto Loewi, who discovered the chemical basis of neurotransmission in 1921, attributed his experimental design to an insight he made during sleep. Secondly, a nice rest takes out the edge in people’s attitude, and who wouldn’t want a more pleasant
