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No one would dispute the value — and enjoyment — of a good nap.
“I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4,” Yogi Berra was alleged to have remarked during his long life of remarks.
A leading source for sleep health, improvement, and education has used its resources to look into how work impacts sleep. Some of the data might surprise you.
Or perhaps not.
Based on the survey conducted by SleepDoctor.com, 46% of respondents said they nap during the workday at least a few times per year. Additionally, 33% said they nap weekly, 18% said several times per week, 9% said once per week, and 6% said every day.
Here’s to you, 6%.
The survey also showed that remote and hybrid workers are likelier to take naps during the workday than in-person workers. Don’t tell our Boss Man that. Likewise, younger workers and men are more likely to nap than older workers and women.
That seems to track with younger workers, as the weekday happy hours leak into the sad hours. So, I hear.
“Napping can absolutely help you recover from poor sleep the previous night,” said Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and sleep medicine expert at Sleep Doctor. “There’s actually data to show even a seven-minute nap can make a difference, and a NASA study showed that napping increased alertness.”
Researchers analyzed survey responses from 1,250 full-time workers in the United States. Pollfish conducted the survey. To view the complete report, go here.
Founded in 2008, Sleep Doctor is a leading sleep wellness company committed to enhancing community well-being through extensive sleep education, product testing, and curated product selections. The website provides product recommendations derived from hands-on testing, offering general information designed to supplement, rather than replace, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents to the survey also said they lose sleep at night because of career-related stressors. Ten percent say they lose three hours or more of sleep due to job stressors, 22% say two hours, and 25% say one hour. In addition, 9% say 30 to 59 minutes, 7% say 15 to 29 minutes, and 4% say less than 15 minutes. The most common job stressors are work-life balance, demanding projects, upcoming deadlines, and struggles to get to work on time.
Work on time?
Among respondents who nap during the workday, 26% nap for fewer than 15 minutes, 27% nap for 15 to 29 minutes, and 24% nap for 30 to 59 minutes. Moreover, 12% nap for one hour, 9% nap for two hours, and 3% nap for three hours or more.
The top reasons why workers nap are to re-energize, to recover from poor sleep at night, to handle long working hours, and stress. Other reasons include boredom and avoiding work.
The three-martini lunch will also necessitate a nap.
According to a friend.