SINGAPORE, June 5 Former American president Donald Trump bragged about getting just three to four hours of sleep a day and some people, too, like to tell of what an.
Sleep, or the lack of it, is a favourite topic for entrepreneurs and business leaders. With so much to accomplish daily, it’s inevitable executives sacrifice a few hours’ snooze to keep things moving – or is it? While some CEOs famously declare less sleep is an efficient life well-led, four experts caution against letting the pandemic take over how much.
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April 24, 2021
Employees at Goopal Group take a nap in their seats after lunch, in Beijing, China.
Reuters
China has long embraced the noon-nap-at-work culture. Now it seems the West is waking up to the practice, with corporate giants such as Google and Samsung, as well as US government space agency Nasa, integrating sleep pods into their offices.
But does napping affect our health, and do we really benefit from it?
We often feel sleepy in the afternoon because our circadian rhythm (our internal body clock) is slow to alert us into staying awake.
While some might perceive afternoon sleepiness as annoying, a nap has its advantages, says Kenny Pang, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist at Singapore’s Asia Sleep Centre.
Are naps good for you? Less stress, better mental health and memory among possible benefits – but keep them short or risk sleeping problems at night
Napping rejuvenates the mind and increases concentration, one doctor says, while studies indicate it can also reduce stress and boost the immune system
Although the ideal nap length varies from person to person, a foundation in the US believes the ‘sweet spot’ is around 20 minutes