Do You Want to Be Productive? Go to Sleep

Productive people are an asset to the company. Their sharp minds and focus on details are essential to efficiency. But what if office slackers can be up to par with them just by doing something really relaxing?

How?

By sleeping, napping, or snoozing. However it's called, it's probably going to be the hottest trend to hit work desks. Productivity is now going to be equated with leather sofas, fluffy pillows and soft lighting. Slackers now have an excuse to shy away -- temporarily -- from endless routines associated with work. Napping is now considered a natural, no-cost way to increase worker productivity.

Sleeping in the daytime is viewed as an effective de-stressing activity that also helps workers perform productively. Siestas have long been hailed for enhancing morale, performance, production and safety. Taking 15- to 20-minute naps in the office is known to boost productivity, lower stress levels and improve learning and mood. These sofa sessions likewise help people to focus better on work and prevent sluggish minds. Naps are also beneficial in improving mental alertness. Workers who are allowed to take short naps improved their performance, increased their alertness and helped them do better jobs.

It used to be that sleeping on the job was considered a serious ground for termination. But due to growing evidence of its benefits in the workplace, napping is now fast becoming an alternative to coffee breaks. American companies lose $18 billion a year in lost productivity due to sleep deprivation and insomnia. Some workers say that a bad night's sleep affect their decision-making abilities, while others say that daytime sluggishness keeps them from working efficiently. But companies are now catching on and are seeing the positive effects of sleeping at work.

Workplace naps are now becoming widely accepted in businesses. Some companies even provide relaxation rooms, nap nooks, spent tents, special "napnasiums" and lofts complete with pillows, blankets and alarm clocks. One company even has a nap room with a sign that says "Napping in Progress."

Businesses are now open to the idea because of the fact that sleep deficiency is recognized as a major contributor to business losses like increased errors and accidents, increased absenteeism, increased drug reliance, increased employee turnover, higher group insurance premiums and decreased worker productivity. While it is gaining a growing acceptance in corporate cultures, napping on the job should not take longer than thirty minutes to prevent grogginess and disorientation.

Daytime siestas are also currently being viewed as probable alternatives to avoiding heart problems. A siesta is viewed as both natural and helpful. Taking naps likewise help people preserve youthful looks, revitalize libido, lose weight, and reduce heart attacks and strokes. Regular napping also alleviates stress, boosts creativity, and strengthens memory. Taking half hour naps at least three times a week has been known to, in some cases, reduce the risk of heart problems. Simple naps taken during lunch breaks is said to help men and women have healthier hearts. It is believed that napping is beneficial in relieving work-related stress considered to be detrimental to the health of the heart.