DUBAI, 24 August 2006 — Arguing that a 20-minute siesta is as good as a full night’s sleep, a recent survey has found that employees in the UAE are in favor of introducing the ‘Power Nap’ concept at work.
According to an online survey conducted in July by Bayt.com, the region’s largest recruitment and career planning company, 84 percent of 1,305 respondents who participated said that a post-lunch nap could boost their performance and concentration. The survey randomly polled people of different cultures, lifestyles and work environments across the Gulf.
Another recent survey by Bayt.com reveals that 40 percent of employees in the Gulf region get less than the recommended eight hours sleep every night. Health experts worldwide are united in the belief that sleep deprivation affects both productivity and family life, leading to depression and mental illness.
Around 80 percent of patients in an informal study conducted by Jebel Ali Hospital in Dubai admitted to encountering stress and depression as a result of sleep deprivation. More than 60 percent said they did not get enough sleep due to their lifestyle, which included regular socializing, surfing the Internet, improper diet, and excessive nicotine and caffeine intake.
In the UAE, modern lifestyles have made it difficult for many people to get the recommended eight hours of sleep daily. In Bayt.com’s poll, 80 percent of 2,794 respondents say they require between 7 and 8 hours sleep to be more productive at work. Almost 40 percent of 1,630 respondents admit to sleeping less than six hours each night.
“Although the average adult gets about 7 hours of sleep every night, they should theoretically be sleeping 8 hours or more,” said Dr. Suresh Menon, specialist physician at Jebel Ali Hospital in Dubai. He pointed to research carried out in India which indicates that a quick afternoon nap increases productivity, creativity and problem solving skills of employees at work.
