How beneficial is workplace napping?
Understand the pros and cons of workplace napping, who can benefit from it, as well as how we can nap better.
Naps are surprisingly controversial in both the working and medical community, with different studies painting different pictures on whether or not they are actually beneficial or detrimental. Typically, napping at work is frowned upon due to negative associations of poor productivity. In some studies, naps have also been linked to ill health. It has been suggested, for instance, that taking longer naps can increase levels of inflammation, which is in turn linked to heart disease and greater risk of death1. Other research has connected napping to high blood pressure, diabetes2, obesity, depression and anxiety3. Some studies have even highlighted it as a symptom of dementia in older adults4, implying that the habit could signal larger health problems.
However, for every negative point on napping out there, there exists a flipside in which it is found to be beneficial. Just recently, new research stated that napping a few times a week to catch up on sleep might help stave off cardiovascular-related incidents, such as heart attack5. Others in the same vein have found that it can make us more effective problem solvers by improving brain functions ranging from memory to focus and creativity6. In other instances, it is also said to help us recharge our willpower as well as reduce stress7.
For the majority of us, the contrasting information may raise more questions than it answers. Even so, workplace napping remains prevalent in employee wellness programmes across various organisations, manifesting in the form of dedicated nap rooms or longer lunch breaks. What then is the consensus on napping, and is it truly useful for improving our health and productivity?
It differs from person to person
While these studies can be confusing in terms of the effects of napping, the answer is actually rather simple: it depends on how much we rely on naps, as well as how well we respond to them.
For those of us who have trouble thinking, focusing, or staying awake, a short nap could make a huge difference. It could reduce stress and fatigue while also boosting our performance and productivity at work. For some, naps can even be as restorative as a night of sleep, allowing them to be more energetic and alert and in turn reducing their reliance on stimulants like caffeine or energy drinks.
But naps can also have the opposite effect for some people. Some find that they are disoriented and have trouble focusing after waking up from a nap. Others may also find that napping during the day means that they will have trouble sleeping at night due to the disruption to their sleep cycle.
The important thing is to recognise and understand how naps affect us individually. This can be done by keeping track of details such as the time that you take your nap, how long you sleep, how much sleep you got the night before, and so on. All of these things factor into how well we respond to naps.
How can we nap better?
Napping is a habit that is inherently personal, as our preferences are often shaped by individual lifestyle choices. It may therefore take some time for you to figure out the combination of factors that will allow for the best nap, though there are a few general guidelines that can help you streamline the process:
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Over to you
Ultimately, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with allowing for, and engaging in workplace napping as it serves the purpose of recharging our body and mind. The key, however, is to do what works for each of us. If you happen to be a habitual napper, try to be intentional about your naps by constantly checking in with yourself about its impacts on your health and work performance. Adjust accordingly as you go along, so that you are able to reap the most benefits from it. On the other hand, if you are not a habitual napper and realise that napping makes you feel worse, it is perfectly all right to not nap at all. Instead, find out how other healthy alternatives can do the same for you, such as engaging in some mindfulness activities or taking a brief stroll outside. The main takeaway here is that self-knowledge is crucial. By taking the time to know ourselves and understanding what our body and mind needs, we can allow ourselves to make more informed lifestyle choices as well as build healthy, holistic habits. After all, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to our health, and what works for others may not always work for us.
Resources:
1. Cimons, M. (2020). Chronic inflammation is long lasting, insidious, dangerous. And you may not even know you have it. The Washington Post.
2. BBC News. (2016). Long daytime naps are 'warning sign' for type-2 diabetes.
3. Léger, D., Torres, M., Bayon, V., Hercberg, S., Galan, P., Chennaoui, M., & Andreeva, V. (2019). The association between physical and mental chronic conditions and napping.
4. Citroner, G. (2019). Alzheimer's Symptoms: Daytime Napping. Healthline.
5. Häusler, N., Haba-Rubio, J., Heinzer, R., & Marques-Vidal, P. (2019). Association of napping with incident cardiovascular events in a prospective cohort study.
6. Harvard Health. (2009). Napping may not be such a no-no.
7. Heid, M. (2014). You Asked: Is It Good or Bad to Take a Nap?. Time.
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