I know it’s not socially acceptable to be napping at work, and in many companies it may get you a boot out the door.  Yet there are any number of studies that all say the same thing, a lack of sleep will impact performance and a little nap can improve productivity.

We all know the importance of getting enough sleep.  Our bodies need time to rest and rejuvenate and sleep provides this.  Not getting enough sleep has a major impact on our health, both physical and mental, increase stress and our decreases our ability to manage problems.  Lack of sleep causes us to be cranky and moody and less productive, creative and focused.

And even knowing all this, when we get busy we shorten the amount of time we sleep.  

I’ve never been a great sleeper, even as a kid.  It would be a rare night that I sleep more than 4 – 5 hours straight.  Sometimes I am able to fall back to sleep and most often I’m restless and get up and read. I confess I read a lot of books at 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning.  I know it’s not good for me but my body obviously thinks differently.

I can tell you from personal experience that the nights I wake up multiple times, or the nights I’m awake at 2 AM and can’t fall back to sleep I’m less productive the next day.  Stack a couple of those nights back to back and it can be a problem. Yes I can function and I know I’m not at the top of my game.  

I love naps, and always have.  When my children were little my delight was to have my husband take care of the children and crawl into bed for a nap…often an hour or longer.  I still take naps. Having my own business does have its benefits as when I have no meetings I can enjoy a nap in the afternoon if need be.  

You should take naps too if possible. Not the hour naps I mentioned…the 20 minute power naps.  The National Sleep Foundation suggests that a short nap of 20 to 30 minutes is best for improved focus without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with sleep.

“It’s only since the industrial revolution we have been obsessed with squeezing all our sleep into the night rather than having one or two sleeps through the day,” explains Vincent Walsh, professor of human brain research at University College London.

Sleep experts have found that daytime naps can improve many things: increase alertness, boost creativity, reduce stress, improve perception, stamina, motor skills and accuracy, enhance your sex life, aid in weight loss, reduce the risk of heart attack, brighten your mood and boost memory.

“Daytime naps can be one way to treat sleep deprivation. You can get incredible benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of napping. You reset the system and get a burst of alertness and increased motor performance” writes Dr. Sara Mednick in her book, Take a Nap! Change Your Life. 

I know it may be taboo at your office to take a nap, and if you can the evidence supports the value of taking cat naps, the 20 minute nap to reset your system.  

Talk to your boss about it and determine if it’s possible.  I know of several companies that have quiet rooms where people can go and rest or nap.  If napping at your desk isn’t an option can you take a brief trip to your car or someplace where you can literally put your head down?

Build in naps to your weekend, even if you can’t during the workweek.  While you may think you are a rock star multi-tasker I suspect that you will that a short nap will improve your mood, energy, productivity and focus.

Time management is challenging for everyone.  We can help.  

Download our Time Management Checklist.  And include taking a nap!