Redefining Rest: The Rise of Standing Naps in the Workplace

In many offices in Taiwan, a tradition of turning off the lights during lunch breaks paves the way for a brief respite from work. But can a short nap sprawled on a desk truly recharge one’s energy? Recent collaborative research between Taiwanese and Japanese institutions suggests that a swift stand-up nap could be the antidote to afternoon fatigue.

Last month, the Nescafé flagship store in Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku introduced the ‘giraffenap’ — a nap pod designed for standing sleepers. Roughly the size of a small telephone booth, these resting chambers aim to offer more than just a space-saving solution. As humans sleep standing, their bodies remain in a state of light sleep due to the gravitational pull, making it difficult to slip into deep sleep cycles. Consequently, individuals can rejuvenate efficiently without the grogginess often associated with more prolonged rests.

This intriguing solution stems from a 2019 memorandum between Hokkaido University and Taiwan’s Medical Institutes, where tests showed the benefits of achieving ‘Stage 2’ sleep (a light form of sleep) while standing. When this sleep phase extends beyond 30 minutes, individuals feel genuinely refreshed, ready to dive back into tasks without the usual post-nap lethargy.

With the product’s development entrusted to Hokkaido’s Broadleaf Plywood Company, known for their expertise in crafting wooden items, the ‘giraffenap’ is set to enter mass production by next January. Their collaboration with Nestlé Japan, which allowed public trials of the standing nap pods, tapped into the alarming statistics highlighting Japan’s sleep deficit. A 2021 OECD survey branded Japan as the ‘most sleep-deprived nation,’ with an average sleep duration of a mere 7 hours and 22 minutes.

The Nescafé store adds a twist to this experience: a specially brewed coffee to aid in napping. As counterintuitive as it sounds, research from Nestlé Japan highlights that caffeine intake just before a nap sharpens the mind upon waking. Thus, for both cost and time efficiency, the giraffenap combined with a caffeine kick appears to be an enticing proposition for potential consumers.