Need To Be Alert? Take A Nap
Researchers Prove Benefits Of Power-Napping
UPDATED: 9:01 am CDT May 30, 2002
Harvard researchers have found that we can all improve our performance on the job if we just take a little nap.
The research showed that those people who take a short nap in the middle of the day were more mentally alert and productive.President John F. Kennedy was probably the best-known power-napper, followed by Winston Churchill. Both men knew they would do better if they took a short daily nap.As part of the test, psychologists gave visual perception tests four times to 30 men and women. Those who had no nap performed worse and worse on the tests. Those who took a 30-minute nap did much better and those who napped an hour did the best of all.Researchers say there's no question that Americans are sleep-deprived.Many don't get six hours of sleep per night, let alone the eight hours most people need, and that takes a major toll on the nation.Drowsiness has been linked to $100,000 in accidents a year and the National Sleep Foundation estimates daytime sleepiness is a $100 billion drag on the American economy in the form of lost productivity, workplace injuries and health care expenses.The researchers say that with a half-hour nap in the middle of the day, you can salvage your skills and not deteriorate. If you get an entire hour's rest, you can be totally revitalized.Because of studies like this, a small but growing number of businesses have starting offering their workers napping rooms.
The research showed that those people who take a short nap in the middle of the day were more mentally alert and productive.President John F. Kennedy was probably the best-known power-napper, followed by Winston Churchill. Both men knew they would do better if they took a short daily nap.As part of the test, psychologists gave visual perception tests four times to 30 men and women. Those who had no nap performed worse and worse on the tests. Those who took a 30-minute nap did much better and those who napped an hour did the best of all.Researchers say there's no question that Americans are sleep-deprived.Many don't get six hours of sleep per night, let alone the eight hours most people need, and that takes a major toll on the nation.Drowsiness has been linked to $100,000 in accidents a year and the National Sleep Foundation estimates daytime sleepiness is a $100 billion drag on the American economy in the form of lost productivity, workplace injuries and health care expenses.The researchers say that with a half-hour nap in the middle of the day, you can salvage your skills and not deteriorate. If you get an entire hour's rest, you can be totally revitalized.Because of studies like this, a small but growing number of businesses have starting offering their workers napping rooms. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
