Although HubSpot Founder and CEO Brian Halligan is often heckled by fellow HubSpotters about his tendency to nap at the office (see photo at left), he may be onto something.
On HubSpot's internal wiki, Brian recently posted a link to a research-based article published by the Harvard Business Review regarding the benefits of napping during work hours. The article, entitled "Why Companies Should Insist That Employees Take Naps," discusses the reality of naps and their ability to be powerful sources of competitive advantage.
The article cites results from a research study, concluding that the more hours we work continuously, the greater the toll on our performance. It also points out that naps are not only physically restorative but also improve perceptual skills, motor skills, reaction time, and alertness.
A few other key findings from the study:
Subjects who napped dramatically outperformed non-nappers.
- The best time to nap is between 1 and 3 p.m., when the body desires sleep most.
- The ideal length for a workplace nap is 30 minutes or fewer, which ensures you won't fall into deeper stages of sleep and wake up with the loopy feeling scientists call "sleep inertia."
Halligan's closing message to HubSpotters? "Feel free to snooze away," he says. Oh, and HubSpot may need to think about getting a few more comfortable couches...
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Originally published Sep 22, 2010 12:44:00 PM, updated January 17 2023
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