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I take a siesta at work …
[mis à jour le 1 February 2007 à 14h54]
A little siesta between midday and two o’clock, and then back to work! In Normandy, a company manufacturing figurines, Leblon-Delienne, has made a rest room available to its 43 employees. At lunchtime, almost one in two employees go there for a little nap.
Like the Romans, to some extent, who used to have a refreshing sleep at noon, in other words at the sixth hour after sunrise. The sixth hour or “sexta hora”, from whence came the Spanish word “siesta”…
“If you’re tired, you have a rest and then you work well”, says Marie Leblon, who created the Leblon-Delienne brand. “This short break makes people feel good, and then they get on better with each other”.
“The good life”, as Baudelaire used to say. In this wonderful world, employees have a nap in the midst of statuettes representing Calimero and Barbapapa. During their lunch break, some employees come for a real snooze, while others simply stretch out on comfortable cushions or poufs. It is hardly surprising that, according to the management, nine out of ten employees declare themselves satisfied with their working conditions.
“Relax …”
This factor of social cohesion is also very therapeutic. “A siesta is a highly beneficial investment”, explains Dr Jérôme Lefrançois, who provided advice to the above company. “Fifteen to twenty minutes provide the same benefits as an hour-and-a-half during the nocturnal cycle. It allows the body to recover, and has a positive impact on vigilance and concentration, memorisation and creativity. Not to mention the fact that a siesta is a very effective and cheap way of combating stress”.
However, this kind of refreshing resting period is still not well accepted in our country. “It’s the same in other countries, even neighbouring countries”, continues Dr Lefrançois. “We must not feel guilty about taking a nap. We all suffer a drop in vigilance between 1pm and 3 pm. This is physiological. The best way of combating this is therefore to relax in a calm, dark room. Above all, do not fight it.” For in addition, it is very exhausting to fight against sleep.
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