Why are two sleeps better than one?

Did you know that scientific research has confirmed “We’re designed to have two sleeps a day - a big one at night and a small one in the afternoon,” says Professor Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, UK.

Churchill, Da Vinci, Bonaparte, Edison, Brahms, Einstein, Roosevelt and Clinton were all hip to the nap. Churchill regularly catnapped in the afternoon, even throughout the war, so that he could get two days in one. Later he wrote, ‘Don’t think you will be doing less work because you sleep during the day. That’s a foolish notion held by people who have no imagination. ‘

It’s a natural way to make the most of our time and energy, by giving ourselves some time to rest, regenerate and consolidate.

Researchers at NASA have found that “an afternoon nap increases productivity by 35% and decision making ability by up to 50%” and strategic napping has been shown to improve alertness, productivity, and mood (Dinges and Broughton 1989; Takahashi and Arito 2000).

But most of us don’t have space for a hammock let alone a nap room at work for a daily zonk and if you don’t fancy flaking out under the chair, drooling into your keyboard, or snoozing in the loo (as some workers are reported to do) how do you get all the benefits of a midday rest?

Try POCKETNAP