The nap manifesto
what napping can do for you
It’s free, it’s nontoxic and it has no dangerous side effects. Hard to believe, with these powerful selling points, that people have to be convinced to nap. But alas, for way too long, napping has been given a bad rap.Employers want to keep their workers occupied with the business of business. Parents want their children to do homework when they come home from school or at least to play outside instead of “sleeping the day away.” University administrators think the sight of students napping on campus sets a bad example. But as the facts pile up, the case for napping becomes too compelling to dismiss.
If you’re a closet napper, come out and show some pride . . . help your fellow employees, family members and friends to see the light. And for those of you who still insist on saying, “Give me one good reason why I should nap,” science can do better than that.
It can give you 20 reasons. Napping will allow you to:
1. Increase your alertness.
This is, for many, the most important benefit. Whether you’re on the road, observing market trends, diagnosing patients or interacting with clients, staying alert is the most important determinant of your efficiency. NASA studies have conclusively demonstrated that alertness increases by as much as 100 percent after a brief nap, even in well-rested subjects.
kassandra