How naps can boost economic growth

A team of economists recently conducted a real-life sleeping experiment to determine how sleep affects productivity, among other things. It turns out the term ‘power nap’ is so named for a good reason.

- Johan Fourie

I’ve always been an early riser. It’s 04:36 as I write this, but then, I was also in bed quite early, getting my usual six to seven hours of sleep.This isn’t uncommon for South Africans. According to Sleep Cycle, an app that tracks sleep patterns, we’re the first to go to sleep every night – at 22:46 on average. But we’re also early risers – at 06:08 – second after Guatemalans. (Apparently the Dutch have the best sleep quality, Iranians the worst, while Greeks, Italians and Spaniards snore the most!)

While these numbers suggest the average South African gets about seven hours of sleep nightly, the sample is, of course, unlikely to be representative. Yet, even seven hours is at the lower end of what’s required.

Most studies agree that between seven and nine hours of sleep is necessary for adults to function optimally. Kids need more; from nine hours as teenagers to 14 hours as babies. Lack of sleep could have serious health consequences; it’s been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. In the US, 6 000 car deaths occur annually due to sleep-deprived drivers.

It’s especially those living in cities that are likely to suffer most, where noise, heat and pollution contribute to sleep deprivation. Even more so for the poorest, who often don’t have access to the modern amenities that can reduce these physical discomforts.