Back to work after lunch….the eyes are feeling heavy…concentration is not great… I need a cup of coffee to perk me up. Looks like I’ve hit the universal phenomenon known as the “post lunch dip”.

Its a normal response  for us humans with the internal rhythms of our body  calling out for a quick nap around 7 hours after our normal waking time. However slumping onto the keyboard while breaking into a gentle snore would attract quite a lot of attention in the office, and I’m not sure the boss would be overly impressed

However its seems that to get the best out of employees, allowing them a nap at lunchtime is a great idea.

Research by professors Andrew and Nada Kakabadse found that a group of workers taking a 90-minute nap improved in their ability to learn by 10 per cent, while a non-napping group did 10 per cent worse.

Nada explains:

“People are increasingly being asked to do more with less at work. Outdated and uninspiring management practice is having an oppressing effect on workforces, who are increasingly operating in environments where the attitude is ‘lunch is for wimps’.

Andrew said “We recommend companies consider and evaluate appropriate break times for their workers. Staff should be encouraged to take approved rests, and be provided with a private place where they can take a nap without any pressure of their reputation being damaged for doing so”

So…I’m thinking we should test it out in the Proposito office and take it in turns to have a quick zzzz after lunch. It could become an employee perk! I’ll suggest it at the next team meeting, but in the meantime, I’ll continue to self medicate with coffee and jog back and forward to the printer a few times.