The Case for Strategic Napping

Do you regularly find yourself fighting the after-lunch slump―that early afternoon time when you feel a really strong urge to let your eyes follow their impulse and close? Do you ever give in? Lots of us have come to regard afternoon naps as pure self-indulgence, as a mark of laziness. Napping can feel like a way to avoid doing what you’re supposed to do, rather like playing hooky from school. But consider the alternative: what happens if you force yourself to keep your eyes open and forge ahead with your to-do list? Will you really be productive? Peak performance moments rarely come when you’re tired and groggy. The truth is, naps can be beneficial and help you to be more effective, but not under all conditions. Napping can be part of your strategy for performing at your best if you know when, where, and how long to nap. Read more…