Still underdeveloped and not very positively connoted in Belgium, the siesta is nevertheless a fairly widespread practice abroad. In most Asian countries, notably Japan, it has even become a cultural practice known as "inemuri" (in Japan, taking a nap means working so hard you can't stand up). Elsewhere, as in China, napping is a right. It is regulated and enshrined in the constitution.
Although the context in which it takes place is very different from ours (we don't advocate exploiting employees to the point of extreme fatigue), the desired effects are similar: increased productivity, renewed energy or reduced stress.
But let's get back to our pillows. Why do we advocate napping in our Western societies?
There are several reasons why we want to democratize this practice in the workplace.
First of all, we started with an alarming observation: Belgians are stressed at work. According to a study carried out by Omnivit (2018), 3 out of 5 Belgians are stressed at work, and more than 1 in 4 is stressed on a daily basis.
This stress is usually itself caused by another disorder, lack of sleep, which affects 96% of Belgians, either frequently or occasionally. This lack of sleep will, in turn, lead to increasing stress. It's easy to fall into a downward spiral. Not only does stress lead to many unpleasant consequences for sufferers, from simple discomfort to burnout and total cessation of activity, it also prevents them from doing their job properly.
In addition to the obvious health problems caused by stress and sleep disorders, they also represent a major economic challenge for companies.
In 2018 alone, sleep deprivation cost the US economy no less than $400 billion. In Belgium, the cost of stress-related work incapacity amounted to more than 7 billion euros in 2017, according to Inami! These impressive figures are likely to rise even higher in the future if nothing is done..
It is therefore important to remedy this problem because, in addition to the well-being and productivity of workers, it is the profitability of companies that is at stake.
At last a short nap of 10 to 30 minutes has been scientifically shown to be beneficial for both body and mind. It restores stress-fighting hormones and proteins, restores the immune system, reduces pain sensitivity and boosts alertness and reactivity. In short, there are many good reasons to practice it!
At WeNap, we believe it's possible to combine performance and well-being at work without compromising health. This combination is essential not only for employee fulfillment, but also for the longevity of the workforce and therefore the company.
Start writing here...