The concept of taking a nap or “siesta” is nothing new; it dates back to the Roman Empire. Famous Americans like Thomas Edison, General Stonewall Jackson and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were nappers. People around the world still head home during the day to eat lunch and then take a short siesta.
But in our hectic world, and especially in the U.S., napping is often frowned upon and seen as a sign of weakness. The good news for those of you who want to get some shuteye during the day is that napping is making a comeback.
How do I know? Because I’m starting to sell chairs made especially for taking a mid-day nap. Just last month, the University of Miami installed two, new “napping” pods and a massage chair the newly-renovated Student Center.
The napping pods are actually called “energy pods” or “energy nests” and look a lot like a futuristic hairdresser chair with a blackout shield for keeping the area dark. Turns out the pods are in high demand. With so many students commuting to school and traffic at an all time high, the need to get a few Z’s between classes is up.
If you’re still not convinced, here are some reasons why taking a nap has benefits:
- NATURAL ENERGY BOOST – Forget the mid-day coffee or caffeine boost, replace it with a 15-20 minute nap. Our bodies often crave sleep naturally. We’ve been doing it since we were babies and through pre-school, but then that routine is abruptly eliminated in elementary school.
Studies have shown that a 20-minute power nap is more effective than 200 milligrams of caffeine. NASA astronauts also found that a 40-minute nap increases alertness by 100%. Some sleep specialists say that the perfect nap should take place between 1 and 3pm and should last 90 minutes. Okay, so your boss might not go for a 40 to 90 minute nap, but 20 minutes could reduce fatigue and result in a natural energy boost.
- HELPS RESTORE BRAIN – Sleep specialists say napping helps restore a mentally exhausted brain, helps improve motor skills, solidifies completed tasks by reinforcing them during sleep and helps in the learning process. Studies show a nap can improve memory and sharpen your senses, which could result in quicker reaction times. So if you have a big presentation to make, it might be worth going through it a couple of times, then taking a nap or sleeping on it to engrain it in your memory.
- IMPROVES MOOD & OVERALL WELLNESS – Ever feel cranky when someone or something wakes you up too early in the morning? The opposite can be said of taking a nap. A nap could put you in a better mood. That’s because our bodies produce a chemical called Serotonin and when we’re relaxed or napping, there’s more of it. The result is improved mood and an overall feeling of happiness.
- MASSAGE OR ZERO GRAVITY CHAIR – If you’ve tried every position and can’t nap during the day, you can still get energized in a massage or zero gravity chair. I recently sold a massage chair to a firm where high stress is the norm. Employees have started to use it for short 5-10 minute sessions during their lunch breaks and my client says it’s lessening the stress around his office.
So which chair is best for your office? A massage chair offers massages from the head and neck down. A zero gravity chair distributes a user’s weight across the chair, takes pressure off the spine and relieves muscle tension, which results in increased circulation and blood oxygen levels. There’s also a napping nest, which offers music and a cozy place to relax.
Contrary to belief, naps won’t affect your nighttime sleep as long as you wake up three hours before bedtime. But naps aren’t for everyone. If you suffer from insomnia or don’t sleep well at night, you may want to skip the nap and focus on a solid eight hours at night instead.
Whether you’re looking for a “napping pod”, “a napping nest,” a massage chair or a zero gravity chair, Alliance Corporate Services can find it for you. Finding the right office furniture to nap in is key. And take it from me, taking a nap can be re-invigorating, so when the moment calls, close your eyes and sleep on it.