Alternative Health Blog

Don’t look now, but sleep is catching on in the corporate world. It’s all in the name of creativity. Research shows sleep helps us to reorganize and more originally connect our thoughts, which in turn leads to a more creative result.

That’s why 21st century companies like Google and Cisco Systems along with long-established brand maker Proctor & Gamble have installed “EnergyPod” leather recliners in their offices to allow employees to take naps. The recliner blocks out noise and light for the most efficient power sleep.

Universities, including Tufts and Wellesley among about a dozen schools in Massachusetts, have established “get your sleep” campaigns to encourage students to get enough rest. The campus awareness efforts are squarely aimed at convincing students they will stand to get better grades with more slumber and fewer all-nighters.

See what we mean by this Sleep Power Week stuff?

The research is emerging to support the sleep-creativity link. For example, Harvard researcher Jeffrey Ellenbogen discovered that getting enough sleep during “incubation” phases of work projects leads to 33 percent increase in the likelihood that people will “infer connections among distantly related ideas” that turn out to be nothing short of brilliant or ingenious. The Harvard work makes a strong case that more sleep leads to more creativity—whether you get your sleep in one eight-hour stretch or maybe do six to seven at night and another hour during the day.

Here’s an interesting thing: Wall Street executives are predominantly sleep-deprived and in denial that, say, four to five hours of rest at night is enough. Google workers are encouraged to take naps. Professional athletes are avid nappers to energize before night games. Who turns out to be the most creative—whether with ideas or improving on the court, field or ice rink?

Many of us know that Winston Churchill was a habitual napper and he clearly produced some of the most clear and creative thinking during World War II. In contrast, Ben Franklin disregarded sleep and his track record was not exactly dull. But, honestly, I am going with the thought that Ben took a few more naps in the 1700s than might be acceptable in today’s 24/7 world.

Harvard’s Ellenbogen says most Americans make the mistake of thinking the brain shuts off at night “like a computer.” Instead, even beyond dreaming, the brain is re-tooling for better learning and memory. Ellenbogen says one results of getting more sleep is more “aha!” moments. 

That sounds like a plan. Now, where did I put my pillow?

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Today’s blog is a bonus Wednesday post because Sleep Power Week is just too important to our health to miss a single day.