Is Sleeping on the Job Actually, OK?

Most of us love a good nap. You start to feel yourself nodding off after a meeting or on your commute home from work and look forward to getting into your bed for some quick shut-eye before tackling the rest of your day. How are naps good for you, and when should you take one?  

Did you know that humans are the only species that will intentionally put off sleep? All other species listen to their body warning them to rest, but not us! In the United States, there is a stigma that if you’re sleeping instead of working, then you are lazy. This idea has damaging effects on your health. How can a nap help you?  

Humans have three different nap categories.   

• Emergency napping happens when you can’t stay awake and carry on with your activities because of tiredness.  
• Planned napping is a preemptive strike against tiredness. Warding it off before it occurs.  
• Habitual nappers head for their snooze at the same time every day.  

Ideally, a nap should be between 20 to 90 minutes.   

The length varies depending on what you are trying to accomplish with your nap, according to Christopher Lindholst CEO of Metro Naps. After 20 minutes, you will start to slip into a deep sleep. If you are just in need of a quick pick-me-up to get you through the rest of your day, NASA says 26 minutes is the perfect amount for you. It will boost your performance by 34%. A complete sleep cycle is 90 minutes so a longer nap will sharpen your alertness and productivity.   

Maybe it is time to consider throwing in a quick 20-minute nap with your lunch break next time and see how you feel throughout the day. What do you think of napping on the job? 

Restonic Mattress Company. “Should You Nap at Work?” Restonic, 24 Mar. 2022, https://restonic.com/blog/napping-work-5247.