Some Respect, Please, for the Afternoon Nap

KINDERGARTNERS fight against naptime because they want to be just like the grown-ups. But those grown-ups would give anything for a chance to close their eyes during the endless time between lunch and dinner.

Now, out of Greece, comes permission to do exactly that. A study of more than 23,000 adults shows that those who napped for about 30 minutes each week had a 37 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack than those who did not.

So this should mean that all working Americans will receive permission from their bosses to close their eyes every afternoon at about 4 p.m., right?

Don’t bet your blankie on it.

This is hardly the first study showing that sleep is more than simply time when we really should be at work. Other studies, though few as extensive as the Greek research, show that short periods of sleep during the day increase productivity and creativity while reducing stress. And even without surveys, we know this from experience.

When you need a nap, you need a nap. Nothing — not caffeine, not a chocolate bar, not a pill — recharges the battery in the same way.

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Sleep as strategy. As secret weapon. As business plan. Call it what you must. And then get some rest.

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"I've been touting this at work for years and now I have vindication! Maybe when the boss has his first child, he'll understand the desire for the downtime. "