Sleep psychologist Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan has some very interesting advice for bosses. The famous sleep advocate says that letting employees nap at work could give major long-term benefits to companies.
She shared that advice after learning that one-fourth of workers get five hours or less of sleep per night. That kind of sleep deprivation can lead to symptoms similar to being drunk. A one-hour nap could mitigate most of the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
You Need A Nap
Getting the proper amount of sleep, whether in one sitting or through the addition of catnaps, can lead to many health benefits. Most of these benefits would have a direct positive impact on a person’s job.
One of the biggest benefits of a proper night’s sleep is improved memory. Studies have shown that sleep helps solidify memories in a person’s brain.
On a similar note, sleep helps people learn how to do new things. When trying to learn a new skill, like playing the guitar or learning a new language, sleep plays an important role. According to sleep specialist Dr. David Rapoport, “If you are trying to learn something, whether it’s physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice. But something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better.”
If employees have better memories and learn new skills more quickly, that’s good news for bosses. Having enough sleep makes employees more productive, which can make businesses more money.
Will these positive benefits convince bosses that sleep is so important that they should allow naps on the job? If they don’t, maybe this next information will. Having sufficient sleep decreases inflammation, which is responsible for a huge host of illnesses. To put it simply, sleep prevents inflammation, and that keeps people from calling in sick.
Furthermore, sleep can increase creativity and help people think about problems in new ways. This can aid employees in tackling difficult problems at work. Without proper sleep, employees may be much less efficient than they need to be.
Snoozing At Work
The effects of proper sleep are so well known that Google and many other large companies encourage napping. Of course, many of these companies also encourage their employees to work long hours, but at least they know how to make those hours more productive.
Sleeping gives you a chance to reset and refresh, which usually translates to increased productivity.
If you can’t convince your boss to allow naps, you can take the situation in your own hands. If you set a regular bedtime and waking time, you can ensure that you get a proper amount of sleep.
With a good night’s sleep, you’ll be a better employee. And you’ll feel better too.
