Slackers rejoice! Sleeping on the job is good for your heart

While I'm reticent to discard the findings of a six-year study, I do however, have my misgivings about them. Conducted in Greece, where a daytime siesta has long been the norm, it fails to take into consideration many other factors that come into play.

Yes, Greeks take siestas, like many residents of warm countries tend to do. But that's not all they do.They also tend to lead a more leisurely, relaxed life, in a warm, inviting climate that makes it conducive to walk more. A month-long vacation is the norm in Greece. I dare you to find anyone in Athens in August. They've all gone to the country or the islands. In North America, we're lucky if we take the vacation time we're actually entitled to.

Greeks also tend to eat a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and fish. Fast food is an occasional treat; not a daily ritual. Maybe that has something to do with it too?

In our frantic search for answers to some of our more serious health concerns, we tend to sanction studies that conclude the obvious. Naps are good for us. Stop the presses! We needed six years to figure that one out? Most kindergarten teachers could have told us that!

Maybe it's my resentment speaking. Studies telling me that napping on the job is good for me leave me slightly bitter, because it's like telling me that if I looked like Angelina Jolie I would get more attention. I KNOW that, but I still can't do anything about it! Stating the obvious, does not make it happen. Some days, I consider myself lucky when I can find a minute to eat on the job; how in the world would I find time to nap?

Researchers are, of course, cognizant of the fact that the study results may only reveal a small piece of the puzzle. "It's possible that people who napped are just people who take better care of themselves," states Dr. Marvin Wooten. "The guy who doesn't take time out for a siesta in their culture is probably the guy who is extremely driven and under pressure." To paraphrase Homer Simpson: "Duh!"

The study tried to see how napping also affected working women, but not enough of them died during the study to be sure, so I suppose that the time-honoured adage, "no news is good news" applies in this particular instance.

So go ahead and take a nap, my fellow labourers and the next time the Boss Man (or Woman) tells you to get back to the grind, quote Edgar Bergen: "Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?" You may find yourself out of a job, but think of all the time you can spend napping!