Siestas

Siestas

            Coffee. 54% of Americans drink three cups of this beverage to get through an average work day. (statisticbrain.com)What if there was a better way to focus and energize without the addictive drink? Taking a siesta is a healthy way to focus and energize without side-effects. Siestas should be institutionalized on a governmental level as a part of American life because they have many benefits.

Siesta literally means “fifteen to thirty minute nap” in Spanish and usually takes place from 2:00 to 5:00. The siesta has origins that are found in Islamic law and is written in the Quran, the holy book of Muslims. (siestsawareness.org). “And of His Signs is your sleep by night, and by day, your seeking of His bounty. In that, surely, are Signs for a people who would listen."(Quran 30:23).Spain is renowned for their two hour long siestas which became a necessity when farmers slept during those hours to avoid having to work when the sun was at its strongest (donquijote.org).

Nowadays with air-conditioned homes and offices siestas are not needed to escape the heat, but they grant many other benefits. Taking an afternoon nap improves alertness by a 100% which reduces accidents at work and on the road. This is very important since 85% of Americans are sleep-deprived (CDC.gov). According to the CDC, sleep deprivation is a public health epidemic. Not getting enough sleep can prove to be fatal when factory workers fall asleep on the job and fail to operate machinery correctly. Or when one is driving home and falls asleep at the wheel. By taking a short nap these accidents can be avoided. Along with improved alertness, productivity increases by 30% which is better for work places. An employee can return to work feeling rested and motivated (siestaawareness.org).

People who take midday naps also have more energy, are happier, and less stressed. Being happy and less stressed can prevent heart problems by 34%. A short nap provides energy for the day letting people be productive outside of work as well as at work. Recent studies have shown that humans have a biological need for afternoon naps. Human beings feel drowsy and tired during early or mid- afternoon. This tiredness is not as prominent during the daytime as it is during the night, but it still is effective enough to reduce our performance (siestaawareness.org).

 As a child I had never liked taking naps. In pre-school nap-time was horrible. I never slept during that time and my teachers knew that as well. I did not appreciate naps until I got older. I had piles of homework and started feeling tired during the school day. Most of my friends felt similarly. However, I remembered when I was younger my dad used to take short naps sometimes when he came home. He would instruct us to wake him up after thirty minutes. I thought it was foolish to take a nap during the day. Did it really help? My belief was if you had enough sleep at night there was no need to sleep during the day. Even though I didn’t believe in siestas I soon began to notice something; he always seemed refreshed and ready-to-go.

Some may argue that siestas are a waste of time because it prevents people from doing something more productive. This position is weak because siestas improve many cognitive functions (siestaawareness.org). A short nap provides energy and motivation to get through the rest of the day. Siestas provide a solution to the lazy, tired part of the afternoon.

As it can be seen, siestas should be institutionalized on a governmental level as a part of American life because it provides many assets that can improve an average American workday. Siestas leave people more energized, alert, productive, and healthier. While others may argue siestas are a waste of time, the benefits that come with this fifteen to thirty minute nap outweigh those opposing this view. Siestas are a healthy way to combat the unproductive part of the afternoon without side effects. Rather than grabbing another cup of coffee, replace it with a better alternative, a siesta.