How to Cat Nap at Work

An afternoon siesta is common practice in places like Spain and Italy. In our multitasking, high-pressure work environments, a cat nap isn't a sign of laziness. It's necessary to our well-being and job performance. Some companies even tout a "wellness room" where you don't have to hide your need for sleep. Follow these steps if you aren't so lucky.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Case your work area for dark places with doors like closets and storage areas. Take your catnap under coats and behind boxes. Say you've got narcolepsy if someone catches you.

2. Set up strategic hiding places under corner tables and in empty offices. Stash a blanket and pillow and snooze when everyone's at lunch.

3. Put a bell on your office door. Lay your head on some papers. When you hear the bell, pretend you were scrutinizing the details of a report.

4. Use your cell phone or an alarm clock to keep you out of hot water when cat napping. Casually ask how long your boss or coworker will be out of the office. Allow yourself five minutes to get the sleep out of your eyes and fix your hair.

5. Go home during lunch. Studies show even a 30-minute nap increases your productivity. Have lunch at your desk and say you went to the gym.

6. Explain the benefits of napping in the middle of the day to your boss. A NASA study showed people got as much as a 34% boost in performance with a 26-minute cat nap.

7. Get together with coworkers and rally your company to set up a wellness room at work.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your computer display a work document and turn your screen saver off before you take your cat nap.

Resources

• Tell your employer about the benefits of a catnap at work.