Sleeping Your Way to the Top

We all get sleepy at work. Maybe some of us have even indulged in a little nap time on the clock. Well, now, instead of wiping the drool off your keyboard and the guilt off your face, maybe you can tell your boss that you're just improving your performance. Forbes India reports findings that we've been waiting to hear for a long time: Napping on the job can actually make you more efficient.

We're not talking about knocking out for a few hours, though. To be effective, naps should only last for up to 30 minutes. Any more than that and you'll feel groggy. A study at the University of Dusseldorf found that even naps lasting only six minutes helped improve memory. A NASA study also found that a 26-minute nap improved performance. One sleep expert told Forbes India that the ideal nap time is between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., after lunch.

Power-nap in good company: Apparently, Einstein, Churchill, Edison and Dali were all known to sleep on the job. So next time you hear a loud "ahem" coming from behind, pull the blanket up to your ears and tell your boss you're just prepping for that next presentation.

Photo courtesy of Gemsling via Flickr.