In case you didn’t know: March 13 is National Napping Day, according to this helpful calendar. That’s the day after most Americans move their clocks up an hour for Daylight Saving Time.
Nap day is a cute idea, but there’s a serious business concern here.
According to a study released late in November by think tank RAND Europe, sleep deprivation among workers costs the world’s economy $411 billion annually. Among the countries surveyed, Japan’s gross domestic product was hit hardest by lack-of-sleep issues, which sapped its GDP by 2.92%, followed by the U.S. At 2.28%, according to the study.
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Sleep deprivation has the potential to zap productivity and be detrimental to one’s health—two key concerns for tech and other companies. That’s why many companies—including Uber (UBER), Google (GOOGL), Zappos, PwC, Ben & Jerry’s, and AOL (AOL)—all have corporate-sanctioned nap rooms.
For more on good sleep practices, watch:
Then there’s Huffington Post co-founder and Uber board member Arianna Huffington, who has made sleep—or lack thereof—her latest crusade. Promoting getting a healthy amount of sleep is the focal point of her new company Thrive—including through the installation of napping pods in offices—to improve productivity.
Among her other tips for stressed-out sleepers: Don’t take your phone or tablet into the bedroom, and if at all possible, take a nap if you need one.