Long working hours? Taking a nap in office helps reduce fatigue

If you have to stay up long nights working, taking a nap increases your productivity.

A nap at work can keep frustration at bay and improve productivity in employees, finds a new study published in Personality and Individual Differences journal.

Taking a nap can also counteract impulsive behavior and boost tolerance for frustration in people who stay up long hours at night, says the study conducted by University of Michigan. Researchers also say that napping can be a cost-efficient strategy to increase workplace safety.

Employers may find their employees more productive when the workplace has nap pods in the workplace or extended break times are offered.

It's becoming increasingly common for people, especially adults, to not sleep an entire night. This can negatively impair a person's attention and memory, as well as contribute to fatigue.

Researchers examined how a brief nap affected adults' emotional control. The study's 40 participants, ages 18-50, maintained a consistent sleep schedule for three nights prior to the test.

In a laboratory, participants who napped spent more time trying to solve a task than the non-nappers who were less willing to endure frustration in order to complete it. In addition, nappers reported feeling less impulsive.

The study indicates that staying awake for an extended period of time hinders people from controlling negative emotional responses, says lead author Jennifer Goldschmied.

Goldschmied adds that the results suggest that napping may be a beneficial intervention for individuals who may be required to remain awake for long periods of time by enhancing the ability to persevere through difficult or frustrating tasks.