More and more people are incorporating micro-napping into their daily routines, and some companies are even setting up dedicated facilities and rituals for this restorative period. In this article, we have highlighted a few sectors that practice power napping.
Real Estate
Among the sectors practicing micro-napping is real estate. Working in this field requires a lot of versatility and attention throughout the day. The demands of travel, phone calls, research, and client requests can be exhausting, making it natural to feel the need for a break and to sort through information during the day.
That’s why Meilleurs Agents has opted for a nap room within their offices, equipped with rest pods to recharge and then find the best offers for their clients.
Architecture
Taking an energizing nap can be particularly important for architects who often face tight deadlines and complex tasks requiring sustained attention. A moment of rest can be beneficial for professional performance and work quality.
For example, the Greek architectural firm Studio NL has developed and designed an office that includes a bed to allow employees to rest.
Communication Agencies
Communication is a field where new ideas are constantly sought, often requiring long periods of concentration and the need to be reactive throughout the day.
To be effective all day long, the digital internal communication agency Steeple has made short naps mandatory for all employees! What better way to boost productivity than adopting micro-napping together at work? After lunch, the entire team prepares to comfortably settle in and close their eyes together!
“Nap time at work” might even become the new slogan of Steeple, according to the company’s director!
Astronomy
Yes, even astronauts need a break. NASA even conducted a study showing that a 20-minute restorative nap increases productivity by 35%!
Although many astronauts report feeling completely rested after just six hours of sleep, insomnia can still cause irritability, forgetfulness, and fatigue. These issues cannot be ignored when astronauts pilot complex spacecraft traveling through space at thousands of kilometers per hour.
Therefore, micro-napping is essential for astronauts to recharge and work safely. Napping in space isn’t as simple as on Earth. Astronauts must deal with weightlessness, lack of privacy, and constant machine noise. Want to know how they practice micro-napping? Find out here!
Recently, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet even revealed their new dual-purpose spaces! Storage areas, but more importantly, a new ideal spot for a nap in the space station.
Restaurants
People working in the restaurant industry often have irregular hours. They are frequently required to finish late and start early the next day to ensure lunchtime service.
To cope with these hours, they often take naps when the restaurant is closed between services, such as during the hours of 3 PM to 6 PM.
In fact, the restaurant Sixta has gone further and offers a relaxation space for its customers. Equipped with six rest chairs, customers can enjoy a few minutes of rest during the day. After all, it’s well known that a nap helps with digestion.
Healthcare
The medical field has understood for a few years now that it’s important to take care of those who care for others. That’s why we have installed over 270 nap pods in hospitals across France in recent years.
The goal is to allow healthcare staff to take a moment to rest. Here are a few testimonials we’ve received regarding the rest spaces installed for hospital staff:
- “It’s essential for me because in our profession, we often have to operate in the evening or at night, and the days are extremely long.” – Dr. Camille Schipman-Horckmans, visceral surgeon at the Groupe Hospitalier Seclin Carvin
- “We equipped ourselves with nap furniture to provide the well-being that caregivers need because a caregiver who feels good is a caregiver who heals well.” – Sébastien Mirek, anesthesiologist-reanimator at CHU of Dijon
- “20 minutes in the nap pod. A very nice experience, great for relaxing and reducing stress. A nap to start again better. A true pause. It helped me a lot. The Pod is truly indispensable.” – Anonymous user testimonial found in the idea box at the Bulle of the Groupe Hospitalier de Saint-Joseph
- “When we have grafts or complex procedures, it helps us rest or can also motivate us when we have to be on call.” – User feedback from the hepato-biliary center of Paul Brousse Hospital on the nap pod
Education
When we need to focus and learn new things, it’s common to be overwhelmed by information and need rest to organize what we’ve acquired. This applies to both students and teachers who need to be in shape to maintain their students’ attention throughout the day. However, it can be exhausting when one is already tired…
That’s why several schools, such as Collège Jean Vilar, have adopted a rest chair to benefit from its numerous advantages. Similarly, Collège Rosa-Parks in Clisson has implemented a collective musical nap after lunch. Students and teachers gather in a room and are accompanied by two musicians to help them relax during this rest period.
Recently, universities and higher education institutions have also embraced power napping. Students are particularly affected by sleep debt due to their busy schedules, stress, exams, and screens. According to a recent Heyme/Opinionway study, 55% of surveyed students report sleep problems, and 27% say they sleep less than 6 hours per night.
Since 2019, we have already installed 22 rest pods in several universities. If you want to know more and read the testimonials we’ve collected from students, you can check out our article: Study and Nap: What Are the Benefits for Students?
Logistics and Storage
This sector often involves transporting goods over long distances and can be very physically and mentally demanding for drivers. Fatigue behind the wheel can lead to driving errors, slower reactions, and decreased alertness, which can endanger the safety of drivers, passengers, and other road users. To prevent this, it’s important for drivers to take regular breaks to rest and relax to maintain good driving performance.
That’s why the company Safal, specializing in commission, transport, logistics, and storage, installed a micro-nap area for its employees near Nantes in 2017. This decision was made following a request from the company’s staff. Thierry Mabilais, commercial and storage activity manager, decided to install a micro-nap pod to meet this demand.
This summer, we also had the chance to collaborate with Vinci Autoroutes to help vacationers drive safely. Indeed, in 2021, according to an Ifop study, 9 out of 10 drivers admit to having engaged in risky behavior on vacation routes. That’s why, during a weekend at the Limours-Janvry motorway rest area, we offered power naps in nap pods and muscle awakening sessions to drivers to help them get back on the road in better conditions.
Professional Athletes
Sailors
Did you know that sailors are experts in sleep sessions? For the Route du Rhum 2022, participants shared with the newspaper Le Télégramme.
For professionals who participated in this event, sleep is one of the fundamental factors for success in long-distance racing. According to them, the Route du Rhum can be lost due to poor recovery management.
Charles Caudrelier is unequivocal and echoes the views of the sailors lined up for the Route du Rhum 2022, stating, “There are races I lost due to lack of sleep.”
For this reason, and to put all the chances on their side and avoid burning out, sailors impose a nap system, ranging from a few minutes to two hours, depending on the person and the race dynamics. Micro-napping is a natural and physiological need that must be listened to; it’s a real component of recovery.
Tennis Players
Tennis pros are also fans of micro-napping, whether for the Blot Open in Rennes or other major sports tournaments. This year, we enjoyed supporting them!
During these events, tennis players had access to a dedicated relaxation space! Indeed, taking a quick nap before a match is an excellent way for competitors to refocus. It notably affects physical, mental, and psychomotor abilities and effectively recharges the batteries.
Diurnal rest is practiced in all sports! This form of recovery helps athletes maintain good physical condition. It goes without saying that a “properly rested” athlete will be, like anyone else, in full possession of their physical and cognitive abilities (reactivity, decision-making, better reflexes, etc.).
If you want to learn more about the benefits of combining micro-napping with sports, check out our article: Combining Naps and High-Level Sports: The Importance of Sleep
Coworking Spaces
Daily life in a coworking space can sometimes be exhausting due to surrounding noise. To provide a quieter and more restorative working environment, some coworking spaces have installed nap chairs for their users.
For example, Gotham, a coworking space in Switzerland, has installed a nap pod for its members.
Similarly, our coworking space le Square has also set up a dedicated rest area. It hosts around fifty companies, startups, NGOs, and other groups working to organize future mobility and develop new ways of working. This space is ideal for promoting micro-naps and well-being at work.
**Regardless of our sector of activity, it’s important to meet our body’s physiological needs. Micro-napping has become a common practice in many industries, providing workers with an effective way to rest and recharge while maintaining their professional performance. Taking the time for a power nap
Sources:
NASA: Definition and study of the “zero gravity” position in the 1970s.
Author: Juliette Riffaud
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