Napping Research Paper

An unrelenting wave of exhaustion washes over all of humanity each day, right around 1 p.m. The battle to stay awake is often lost, as students nod off in the midst of class, and adults attempt in vain to keep their eyes open through mind-numbing business presentations. In response to this universal somnambulance, people usually ingest caffeinated beverages and saccharine snacks to artificially boost energy levels. However, studies show that a more holistic solution lies in something simple, free, and extremely effective in staving off tiredness: napping. Taking an afternoon siesta greatly benefits health, cognitive ability, and maintaining focus and productivity.

In the United States, high blood pressure is an extremely common health

issue. One method of lowering blood pressure is getting a full night’s sleep. According to Dr. G. Stergiou, taking a nap in the middle of the day can yield similar benefits. As shown in the graph (Source F), the drops in blood pressure experienced when sleeping at night are almost identical to blood pressure drops that occur during naps. However, lower blood pressure is not the only healthy benefit of napping. A study by Dr. Androniki Naska in Athens tracked 23,000 Greek men and women over a six year period. The study followed each subject to see if taking naps lowered the chance of dying due to heart disease. It was observed that among those who napped regularly, the chance of heart disease-related death by 34%, based on the 133 people who died of heart disease during the study. The most drastic result was a 64% reduction in the chance of dying of heart disease among working men who napped. (Source D) This reduction in mortality indicates a strong link between long-term health and partaking in midday naps.
In addition to chronic health problems, cognitive ability suffers greatly when a person is sleep deprived. Teenagers find it difficult to pay attention to new material presented in class while suffering from a shuteye deficiency. Reaction time also slows greatly, making it more likely for those who are low on sleep to cause car accidents. Sleeping sufficiently at night may not be feasible for some, but sleeping for a short time during the day creates a similar benefit as a full 8 hours’ rest. Snoozing can largely compensate for the loss in mental ability caused by sleep deprivation, at least in the short-term. In a study conducted by Dr. Scott Campbell, a group of 32 men and women between the ages of 55 and 85 took cognitive ability tests, and typically scored higher after taking a nap. (Source B) This link between napping and mental function proves that naps make it easier to get through the day while staying sharp and effective. Particularly for those whose jobs require coordination and reaction time, such as heavy equipment operators, pilots, and truck drivers, dozing not only improves basic brain function; it ensures the safety of the workers and those around them.
Historically, those who have habitually taken an afternoon respite have made profound contributions to the world.

One notable believer in the power of siestas was Winston Churchill. During the course of World War II, Churchill took naps almost daily after lunch, and he stated that it increased productivity. (Source G) Others such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Napoleon, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein adhered to the practice of napping. Additionally, Salvador Dali took rests before working on his art to stimulate creativity. Shown by these accomplished people, naps ensure productivity and focus. Aside from single individuals, companies and entire countries have removed the stigma that surrounds napping, as enemies of the habit often consider it a sign of laziness. Corporations such as Nike and Google have introduced a post-lunch nap period for their workers to refresh themselves before putting in a hard afternoon’s work. Additionally, the nation of Japan has completely overcome the idea that napping equates to indolence. When co-workers see one of their constituents resting their eyes, they respect them, because taking a rest shows that the individual wishes to apply themselves to their work as fully as possible. Japan is an extremely productive and efficient nation, therefore naps contribute to

productivity.
Some may argue that if all workers were to take a nap each day on the job, it would facilitate massive losses of time and production.

However, this is simply not so. Productivity lags among sleep deprived workers, so abstaining from a nap would be a net loss, as individuals would be forced to slog through the rest of their day at a greatly reduced level of effectiveness. After a nap, even one of only 20 minutes, workers feel refreshed and ready to attack their work with renewed vigor. In the long term, this boost in energy will yield greater results than if they were to simply deny themselves the rest which they so dearly need. With innovative and advanced corporations such as Nike and Google embracing the importance of naps, they prove to be a net positive for businesses, and more companies should adopt this practice to improve their

competitiveness.
In conclusion, taking an afternoon siesta greatly benefits long-term health, cognitive ability, and productivity. Naps contribute to improving the quality of bodily health, as well as occupational health, by generating copious amounts of energy available to dedicate to one’s work. This wholly natural routine costs absolutely no money, and is even a part of human genetics, indicated by a body temperature drop similar to the one experienced before humans go to sleep at night. Such earth-shaking individuals as Winston Churchill and Napoleon have adhered to the practice of taking afternoon naps, proving it essential to living an effectual, happy, and well-rested life.