A note about zzzz's

In these days when information and technology change so rapidly (except for being able to speak to a real live person when calling a company with a critical question, such as "Is it possible to start a fire in the dishwasher?" -- to which the answer, in case you can't reach a real live person about it, is yes), it is important to keep abreast of new happenings and research in various fields. For instance, the field of nap research is one I find particularly relevant to my own life. One can never know too much about napping, although if research should happen to contradict one's personal beliefs about the subject, well, you shouldn't believe everything you read.

But I was interested to read recently about a study of Japanese workers and napping. Now, if anyone needs a nap, it is Japanese workers, who put in more overtime than just about anyone else. But I also have a feeling that this whole nap thing must cut deeply across the grain of their work ethic. Sleep, in the middle of working? On purpose? Researchers must have given them one heck of an incentive to participate. But on to the study.

One group worked for 2 hours and took a 20-minute nap, and then worked for another hour. The second group also worked for 2 hours, but they had a 20-minute rest period, and then worked for another hour. The first question I had was -- and we should all ask this question -- why wasn't I included in this study? A nap after only 2 hours of work? And then only 1 hour more of work after the nap? Sign me up.

The first group, the Nap Group, were refreshed and productive in their after-nap hour of work. The second group, the "Why Didn't We Get Picked for the First Group?" Group, were also refreshed and productive after their rest. For about 3 1/2 minutes. The study does not say this, but one gathers from the description of the results that this second group ended up taking a nap anyway during their after-rest hour of work, albeit an unauthorized nap.

Obviously just taking a break from one's work is not as effective as actually sleeping. So my suggestion is, companies should provide special chairs for all employees, chairs that -- following the lead of this very important study -- after every 2 hours of work would lean back and let workers put their feet up and take a little snooze. After 20 minutes, the chair would automatically revert to its locked and upright position and would not recline again until another 2 hours of work had been completed, in order to prevent unauthorized napping.

Of course, other accommodations would have to be made for employees involved in such tasks as flying, teaching, working with dangerous animals, etc. But I'm sure something could be worked out. Maybe they could participate in a lot of research studies.