On the occasion of World Sleep Day, the National Institute for Sleep and Vigilance published a survey which shows that a third of the working population does not get enough sleep and suffers from episodes of drowsiness during daytime. Health authorities recommend getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night. However, nearly a third of French people of working age sleep less than 6 hours.
To make up for this sleep deficiency, the Morphée network http://www.reseau-morphee.fr/ , which is dedicated to the management of sleep disorders, advises taking “flash naps” of 5 to 10 minutes in the middle of the day. This light sleep helps you relax, release tension and be more efficient for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, and much to the dismay of sleep specialists, the nap has a very poor brand image in the world of work. “The nap is considered a waste of time, shows that we are not efficient, that we are lazy” explained on France Info Dr Sylvie Royan-Parola, psychiatrist and president of the Morphée network.
Yet, many scientific studies have shown the health benefits of napping. These moments of relaxation would better resist viral and microbial attacks and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
If you can’t do it at your workplace, take a nap on weekends. Sunday, for example, to make up for the hour less sleep due to change to summer time.
