Who doesn’t love a good nap? And let’s be honest — who hasn’t wished they could take one at work every once in a while?
Not only are Canadians in favour of an occasional sleep break, but many are willing to give up conventional perks for it. That’s according to a new survey from mattress startup Casper.
Fifty-nine per cent of those surveyed said they’d forgo free coffee at work for naps. Fifteen per cent would trade a small portion of their paid time off for them. And eight per cent would even give up part of their bonus. A few other findings from the survey found that:
- 29% would give up the office water cooler for naps
- 28% would trade casual Fridays for naps
- 68% would nap more often if a dedicated sleep area were available at work
- 75% currently nap at least once a month
“Personal wellness has become a mainstream cultural phenomenon over the past two decades, but only recently has there been a similar cultural shift with sleep. It’s encouraging to see Canadians at the forefront of that trend,” said the company’s co-founder and CEO, Philip Krim.
READ MORE: What if we treated sleep like we do workouts?
Some companies (like Google) have dedicated nap pods for its employees. Nap desks are another possibility.
“This desk could be used for a siesta or for a few hours of sleep at night on those days when someone struggles to meet deadlines,” its Studio NL Greek designers wrote of the protoype made from metal, white leather, plus solid and lacquered wood.
George Costanza would likely approve. He was clearly ahead of his time when it came to this whole “napping at work” idea, outfitting his work bed with space for a blanket and alarm clock.
READ MORE: Need a break from work? Take it in the morning, says one study
For those looking to get some shuteye while on the job, Krim has the following tips:
Make it short and sweet. Studies show short naps are most effective for improving alertness. Sleeping for longer than 30 minutes can make you more groggy when you wake up.
Stay cool. Aim for a temperature between 15.6° and 19.4° C for the deepest dreams.
Use your imagination. If you have trouble winding down your brain, try thinking in images. It’s almost impossible to clear your mind completely, but switching from sentences to shapes can help you doze off sooner.
Power down. While it’s not always possible to have a separate space for napping, it is important that sleep areas be reasonably quiet, dark, and free of technology like phones, tablets, and TVs.
Sleep experts add that the ideal nap time is between 1 and 3 pm.
“They even have caffeine naps, which is taking a coffee just before you have your little nap,” sleep doula Tracey Ruiz told Global News earlier this year.
“By the time the coffee kicks in, you’re restored and you have a lot of energy.”
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