Why Companies Should Insist that Employees Take Naps

I don’t know why I didn’t listen to my therapist.

When I first met her, I was in the” bigger, brighter, faster, better” state. I was driven by caffeine fueled performance drive. I knew I talked faster, spun faster, and did more than anyone else, and I had a book of business to prove it.

How truly effective I was would remain to be seen. 

I crashed and burned. Big time.

My therapist carefully explained to me, again and again, the power of resting in the afternoon. I even attended a workshop with my wife she gave on Chinese medicine’s tools and the power of napping between the hours of 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. each afternoon. She carefully explained that the nervous system is designed to slow down and provide us less oxygen during this time.

She explained that Mediterranean cultures took siestas during this time so they could play at night, yet they had stamina and energy during the next morning hours.

I didn’t listen. I often rarely do.

But my body listened, eventually. 

During COVID I took naps. I rested; I systematically rested my body for 20-30 minutes in the afternoon, as she suggested, during the afternoon hours. 

The results were amazing. If I fell asleep and slumbered, a no-no, I was disoriented and grumbly, as she had explained this took us too deep into certain brain-wave patterns. We were to only relax, not sleep. The technical and scientific term was “Liver Chi Stagnation.” 

She even provided impressive testimonials of people curing insomnia by resting in the afternoons. She explained the circadian rhythm, the natural cycle of the body and brain. If we honored this, our bodies and minds honored us.

I had a Fortune 250 client who took a power nap for 30 minutes every afternoon in his office. He let it be known he was not to be disturbed. He never discussed it but one day I saw him as he was waking up. He sat me down and described to me the feeling of rejuvenation and clarity he felt after this powerful rest.

I was into my machismo of no-sleep/better -work badge of honor at the time. I thought the guy was nuts. Unfortunately, my concentration was falling – I was never much for focus anyway – but my inability to fake it was slipping and I was tired and becoming virtually totally ineffective.

I have made it a habit – a daily practice – of lying down for 20 minutes in the afternoon. I have a recording my therapist made for me of systematic relaxation of the entire body. It is fantastic! I have so much juice for the afternoon it is like an entire new day!!!

The author states that companies, like GOOGLE, have had napping pods for some time, but do not insist that their employees make use of them.

You must try this! You have nothing to lose. Literally everything to gain.

Rest your body, rejuvenate your mind. It takes 20-30 minutes.

I recommend this over many other self-care protocols since it has been so debilitating to see what more, bigger, faster did to me and does to many others.

Try this. Try this along with a 20- minute walk and 5 minutes of meditation each day. So far, you aren’t even into one hour daily of self-care, but you may have extended your life by a decade.

I am putting my money where my mouth is.  

Now you try.

For more: https://coachingwithcraigllc.com/