You probably don’t nap at work. And for good reason: Your boss probably wouldn’t appreciate it. The thing is, napping would probably make you — and your fellow employees — more productive. A recent story on the Lifehacker Web site by health writer Melanie Pinola takes a closer look into the advantages of napping while at work. Perhaps you can show the story to your boss the next time you’d like a post-meeting snooze.
10 to 20 Minutes
For instance, Pinola writes, a 10- to 20-minute nap in the middle of the day can make you feel energized and alert. Which, in turn, could make you a much more productive employee.
30 Minutes
On the other hand, a 30-minute nap might cause more bad than good. That’s because you’ll awaken from a nap of this length still groggy. You’ll find it hard to focus. And the fogginess could last for another 30 minutes.
The Best Choice?
The ideal nap period might actually be 60 minutes. Pinola said that a nap of this length could dramatically boost your energy and brainpower. It might not be easy, though, to persuade your boss that those 60 minutes put in with your eyes closed were in fact productive.