An interesting article in this month’s HBR on sleep and performance. Professor Dr Charles Czeisler , an expert on the biology of sleep talks about the fundamental biological issue of sleep.

He points out the importance of employees that are well rested as crucial to their performance.

“…our ability to sustain attention and maintain peak cognitive performance has to do with the total amount of sleep you manage to get over several days”.

Lack of sleep over prolonged periods of time not only leads to reduced performace, but is similar to cognitive impairment levels equivalent to drunkness.

“It amazes me that contemporary work and social culture glorifies sleeplessness in a way we once glorified people who could hold their liquor… The analogy to drunkenness is real because, like a drunk, a person who is sleep deprived has no idea how functionally impaired he or she truly is.”

Studies have shown that the 20 minute power nap in the afternoon is really a way to regain power and a booster for productivity.