Could you use a nap right about now?

Chances are, your boss wouldn’t be wild about you pulling a George Costanza and cozying up beneath your desk to catch a few Zs.

But napping can help increase productivity, according to this infographic from Patio Productions (go figure). In fact, some major corporations are embracing the practice. And 34 percent of respondents to a National Sleep Foundation poll said their employees let them nap during the day.

Here’s some more info about napping that won’t make you nod off:

Google and Nike enable their employees to nap. The search engine has sleeping pods scattered throughout the workplace, while the shoemaker offers quiet sleep-friendly rooms. That same National Sleep Foundation poll noted that 16 percent of employees have designated napping rooms.

They perk you up. An hour-long nap can improve alertness for up to 10 hours.

The powernap is 20 minutes long. It improves muscle memory and wipes clean that nettlesome information the brain stores. Meanwhile, a 50 to 90 minutes—dubbed a lazy man’s nap—is great for repairing bones and muscle.

Siestas improve your health. In countries where napping—or taking a siesta—is part of the culture, people had lower rates of coronary heart disease.

Albert Einstein napped. Apparently, he would nod off at his desk, pencil in hand. When the pencil would escape his hand, he woke up.

To learn about other famous people who napped—and a slew of other tidbits on the practice—consult this infographic:



(via Daily Infographic)