Aug 21, 2008 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Effective Napping Can Boost Memory, Productivity
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Napping on the job usually isn't the way to win points with your boss, but some compelling research might change things.
CBS13
Napping on the job usually isn't the way to win points with your boss, but some compelling research might change things.
An afternoon snooze may even give your brain a boost.
"My memory wasn't functioning, and work was harder," Greg Errgong-Weider said.
Errgong-Weider couldn't sleep and he says his memory suffered as a result.
"Then, after I began to get good sleep through treatment for my sleep apnea, I was just truly amazed that within a couple of months my good memory returned," Errgong-Weider said.
Sleep boosts memory, increases productivity, and improves judgment.
New research shows just a 6-minute nap can make the difference.
"[People] not only have the ability to improve their memory by taking a short hap, but also the ability to integrate their thoughts," Dr. Michael J. Bergstein, of Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, said.
Six minutes is the shortest amount of sleep ever found to affect mental functioning, and experts say something happens right at the point of losing consciousness that solidifies memories.
"When our body and our mind are telling us that we need a nap, this is a physiological response to what we require, in fact, to be able to be more productive and more functional.
"Well, you know, I just feel restored," Errgong-Weider said.
There are several tips to help you get started with your nap.
If you're having trouble dosing off, try to nap in the morning or just after lunch to help prevent grogginess.
Eat foods high in calcium and protein, both of which promote sleep.
Also, try to make your nap area cool and wear an eye mask.
If you can't spare six minutes, scientists are now looking into the effects of 2-minute naps.
But for Errgong-Weider, any amount of shut-eye will do.
"I just made work so much easier, made life much more fun again," Errgong-Weider said.
The most common excuse adults make for not napping is that they don't have time, but experts say you should consider that it takes about the same amount of time to power nap as it does to go and get a cup of coffee.
The average nap time is about 20 to 30 minutes, while a good night's sleep requires seven to eight hours.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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