Re-energising made easy
Sleep research emphasises it again and again – a short midday nap is simply part of the daily rhythm. The body needs this break to relieve stress. Not sleeping at lunchtime is therefore pure stress. Our genes are programmed for power napping because it corresponds to the normal biorhythm of adults to sleep twice a day – at midday and at night.
What happens during power napping?
Power napping is the modern term for midday rest. It describes the gathering of strength through a short recovery phase. However, the term also means that napping is sufficient to achieve the goals of power napping: deep relaxation through a short midday rest. Anyone who can fulfil their midday need for sleep should do so. This short nap clearly has a refreshing effect and improves performance. It is important that the power nap lasts a maximum of 20 minutes so that you don’t fall into a deep sleep phase. It then takes considerably longer to wake up and get going again.
Incidentally, the midday slump has little to do with eating lunch. The urge to take a midday nap comes either way. People who get up at 8 am get tired around 2 pm. A meal at 1 p.m. only brings this effect forward or intensifies it.
Naps are good for your health: time out instead of stress
When you are tired and fighting sleep, this means stress. Stress damages body and soul. It is actually even more important for your health to relax deeply for a short time at lunchtime than to sleep. Just a short break to recharge your batteries is enough to help you recover decisively.
Studies have shown that there are more midday sleepers among healthy people when it comes to cardiovascular diseases. People who sleep at lunchtime live healthier lives and statistically have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The most important thing is to listen to yourself and recognise your own tiredness. The body’s request to relax should be followed in order to build up concentration and motivation. Those who can retreat to their couch for 20 minutes for a power nap are lucky. In working life, it is often difficult to find a real resting situation. But it can help to close your eyes in your work chair, rest your arms on the backrest, put your feet up and relax deeply.
Sleeping in the office: utilise existing facilities
Quite a few companies have actually provided their employees with quiet rooms and retreats. However, the offer is usually not taken up. The reason lies partly in our upbringing and partly in the prevailing social values. Sleeping and resting during the day is still a taboo. You are considered lazy or a person with a bad lifestyle if you indulge in an afternoon nap. Another reason is the constant availability in the modern communication society. Rest periods such as lunch breaks are hardly accepted and practised in our performance-based working lives – a big mistake.
No nap? Outdated model and its consequences.
Even in societies where the midday nap has always been part of the culture, the beneficial short nap is under massive threat in the modern communication and performance-oriented society. The negative consequences of a lack of power napping can include poor concentration, bad moods, irritability, depression, accidents at work or on the road and much more. In short: physical and mental health is at risk.
Conclusion on power napping: those who sleep more often achieve more
As sleep experts, we strongly advocate power napping. Those who recharge their batteries at lunchtime are healthier, more productive and happier.
