Post by Bozur on Jun 20, 2008 10:31:05 GMT -5
Save Your Job with a Siesta!
Napping Not Always Taboo
By N. BHATTA
The previous generation of office workers would probably be fired were they caught napping on the job, but the demands of modern life nearly make naptime a necessity, not a luxury. The average adult works nearly 10 hours but sleeps fewer than seven hours per night. That's an entire hour less than the recommended eight hours for good health and productivity, and this deficit is the reason that 33% of workers have fallen asleep or felt sleepy at work in the last month.
Sleeping on the Job
Major Mistakes. Tired people often fumble directions and forget important and integral elements of their job, ruining projects and prospects. Sometimes this involves a document but in cases of construction or similar work, mistakes made can leave people disfigured or even dead.
Poor Performance. The "work sleepy" employees actually end up doing is often lackluster and of a lower quality than it would be were the worker wide awake.
No Performance. Fatigue is a big part of not being able to stay on a job, and companies whose workers suffer from this will deal with more absences and higher turnover, which then lowers profits. Furthermore, absences and turnover isn’t helpful for employees, either -- in these scenarios, you’re making less money or are out of a job.
Amazingly, the lost productivity of fatigued workers cost businesses over $100 billion a year! And to the tired hire, the cost is not only financial but also emotional and physical. Your health, self esteem, sex drive, and social life are all dependent upon you getting enough sleep. With this information, you know what you need to do for yourself and your job.
Use the following tips and go ahead and get in bed with Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, and Albert Einstein, all of whom are famous nappers.
Find the right place.
On 'Seinfeld,' George Costanza napped in a homemade cabinet he built underneath his desk, but for most people over 5’4 that might be too uncomfortable. Instead, try napping leaning back in your chair, in your car, in an empty room, leaning over your desk, or anywhere that feels comfortable to you. Some forward-thinking businesses actually provide workers with a nap space, so it can’t hurt to ask your job about the possibility of creating one.
Nap the right time.
Just like Goldilocks’ bed, you want your nap to be “just right.” While the ideal nap lasts for 90 minutes (giving you enough time to get precious REM sleep but just short enough to not interfere with your night sleep), even naps as short as 20 minutes can provide enough rest to get you through the rest of the day. Getting into a routine with naptime happening at a certain time every single day also works wonders to increase productivity and personal health.
Create the right vibe.
You want to enjoy the precious minutes of your nap, so try to limit caffeine beforehand—you won’t need it as much with a set naptime, anyway. Hopefully your nap room is cool and comfortable, with dim lights and not too much noise. Earplugs, an eyeshade, and a favorite blanket, pillow, or chair will also help, and an alarm that has a soothing wakeup song is a much better choice than a startling siren.
See Also: Jobs That Let You Work From Home
Get the right, period.
If any form of "no sleeping on the job" is mentioned in your employee handbook, you may want to nap in your car during your lunch hour to avoid repercussions, as some places take this rule very seriously - 52 percent of companies reported having to reprimand or even suspend workers who napped in the office. Even if there isn’t a specific rule against sleeping, it might be in your best interest to broach the subject with your coworkers and boss and reassure them that it won’t affect productivity. If you don’t and they catch you mid-nap, it may be harder to explain as a lifestyle choice and not an accident!
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