If you’re employed in an office setting, chances are you’ve experienced this scenario: after a restless night, you push through the morning tasks, only to find yourself slowing down after lunch, struggling to focus as the afternoon wears on. The temptation to steal a few moments of shut-eye becomes irresistible as the day progresses.

According to a recent survey conducted by Sleep Doctor, a sleep wellness company, occasional workplace napping is quite common. Out of the respondents, 46% admitted to napping during work hours at least a few times a year. What’s more, 33% confessed to doing so on a weekly basis—9% once a week, 18% multiple times per week, and 6% daily.

Taking a short nap, especially if you’re sleep-deprived, can provide a much-needed energy boost to tackle the rest of your day, explains Sleep Doctor founder and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, Ph.D. However, he cautions against making it a habit.

Breus emphasizes that while it’s normal to feel a bit drowsy between one and three in the afternoon due to a natural dip in core body temperature post-lunch, relying on naps shouldn’t be necessary if you’re getting adequate sleep at night.

For individuals grappling with insomnia, midday napping can exacerbate sleep troubles, Breus warns, stating that it only serves to disrupt nighttime sleep patterns further.

The survey, completed by nearly 1,300 full-time U.S. employees in March through Pollfish, offers valuable insights into post-pandemic work habits, although it lacks specific details about respondents’ work schedules, environments, or socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite not being a scientific study, Breus believes it sheds light on the evolving behaviors of the American workforce.

Half of in-person employees nap in their cars

Napping during work hours isn’t limited to remote or hybrid employees; it’s also prevalent among in-person workers. Approximately 27% of those working in traditional settings reported taking naps at the office on a weekly basis, compared to 34% of remote workers and 45% of hybrid workers. In-person employees reported napping in various locations:

• Car: 50%
• Desk: 33%
• Designated napping area at the company: 20%
• Returning home: 14%
• Bathroom: 9%

Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, considers workplace napping a privilege. He points out that disparities in access to napping spaces and employer acceptance affect many people’s ability to nap during work hours.

According to Pelayo, those in certain occupations, like assembly line work, or those reliant on public transportation may not have the opportunity to nap during the workday. Additionally, safety concerns may prevent some individuals from feeling comfortable enough to nap, as they might be vulnerable to theft or attack while asleep.

Men, younger staffers more likely to nap during workday

According to Sleep Doctor’s findings, a majority of male employees, comprising 52%, admitted to napping during work hours at least a few times annually, compared to 38% of female employees. It remains unclear whether the survey included data from non-cisgender workers.

A significant portion of younger adult employees acknowledged engaging in workday naps, surpassing the percentage of older, more experienced staff:

• Ages 18–34: 54%
• Ages 35–54: 46%
• Ages 55 and above: 25%

Dr. Rafael Pelayo, speaking to Fortune, attributes the higher incidence of sleep-deprived behavior among younger adults to their relatively lesser control over various aspects of life. Factors such as childcare responsibilities, elderly care obligations, longer commutes, and heightened demands on their leisure time contribute to their sleep deficits.

Pelayo further explains that while aging can bring about medical issues that disrupt sleep, healthy elderly individuals typically enjoy better sleep quality than their younger counterparts. He suggests that maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout life contributes to better sleep outcomes in old age.

Remote workers take longest workday naps

Alaina Tiani, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, suggests that brief naps of 20 to 30 minutes, termed “smart naps,” can enhance alertness and rejuvenate individuals. These short naps are more likely to keep the brain in lighter sleep stages, leading to a refreshed awakening. Tiani advises scheduling naps well in advance of bedtime to minimize any potential disruption to nighttime sleep quality.

According to data from Sleep Doctor, a majority of individuals who nap during work hours limit their naps to under 30 minutes:

• Less than 15 minutes: 26%
• 15–29 minutes: 27%
• 30–59 minutes: 24%
• 1 hour: 12%
• 2 hours: 9%
• 3+ hours: 3%

Interestingly, remote and hybrid workers are more inclined to nap for over an hour, with 34% of remote workers and 31% of hybrid workers doing so, compared to 15% of in-person workers.

Michael Grandner, Ph.D., director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, found the survey data intriguing due to the contrasting prevalence of napping in Western cultures compared to others. He notes that the willingness of many remote workers to embrace napping opportunities suggests a desire to incorporate naps into their lifestyle if circumstances permit.

Why are employees napping at work?

Staff members primarily cited exhaustion as the main reason for napping on the job, with some attributing it to boredom:

• Re-energize: 62%
• Recover from poor sleep at night: 44%
• Handle long working hours: 32%
• Stress: 32%
• Boredom: 11%
• Avoid work: 6%

However, what leads to this sleep deprivation in the first place? Paradoxically, while napping at work offers a temporary reprieve, 77% of survey respondents identified job-related stressors as the cause of their nightly sleep disturbances. Approximately 57% reported losing at least an hour of sleep on an average night. Work-life balance emerged as the top stressor:

• Work-life balance: 56%
• Demanding projects: 39%
• Long hours: 39%
• Upcoming deadlines: 37%
• Struggling to get to work on time: 30%
• Issues with boss: 22%
• Interpersonal conflict in the workplace: 20%
• Fears of being fired or laid off: 19%

According to Breus, this cycle of losing sleep due to work stress and then seeking rest during the workday is not uncommon, suggesting a disruption in the normal sleep-wake cycle.

Hybrid workers were most affected by job stressors impacting sleep, with 88% reporting such issues, compared to 73% of in-person workers and 71% of remote workers. Additionally, higher-level employees, such as CEOs and senior managers, were more likely to report sleep disturbances due to career stress, with 84% experiencing such challenges compared to 71% of lower-level employees.

Napping on the job may have health, performance consequences

While nodding off at your desk might seem harmless during slower workdays or when you think your supervisor isn’t watching, Sleep Doctor data reveals that some employees have faced consequences.

Among those who nap at work, 17% admit to missing deadlines and 16% miss meetings at least once a month due to being asleep on the job. Moreover, approximately 27% of workers confess to dozing off during remote meetings in the past year, while 17% have done so during in-person meetings.

Although only 20% of workers encountered repercussions, some were significant:

• More frequent check-ins with supervisors: 62%
• Changes in workload: 56%
• Meetings with managers: 49%
• Suspension: 24%
• Termination: 17%

Alaina Tiani suggests that limiting sleep to a single major nighttime period can help ensure adequate rest at night, reducing the need for daytime naps that may disrupt work or other responsibilities.

Michael Grandner acknowledges that strategic daytime napping can enhance energy and productivity, but unintentionally falling asleep at work may signal an underlying health issue. He recommends evaluating nighttime sleep for untreated sleep disorders like sleep apnea or taking steps to improve sleep quality.

Rafael Pelayo advises seeking medical advice if you typically don’t nap but suddenly experience unexplained fatigue. He suggests that a sudden change in sleep needs could indicate an underlying medical condition.