New chill-out/relaxation room opens in Dover Street Building

15 May 2013

Take a 10 minute power nap to beat the afternoon 'dip'.

We would all say that we want to be more alert and effective during the day. According to one of the UK’s leading experts, an excellent way to beat the afternoon dip of drowsiness is to take a 10 minute power nap. Professor Jim Horne, of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, maintains that a quick nap helps re-energise the brain and reduce sleepiness.

There is research which shows that power naps can “lift productivity, lower stress and improve memory and learning.” Some research has even found that brain activity remains higher throughout the day when a nap is built into the schedule.

Now as part of the University's Wellbeing programme, there is a new chill out room, which contains four comfortable reclining bean bag beds, blankets, cushions and eye masks for your use.

The room will be kept open and you won’t need to book: just turn up with your headphones, a favourite relaxation practice - and chill.

Among the first users of the new facility were Carole McCauley from the Directorate of Human Resources and her colleague Cath Beard. Carole reported afterwards: “We thoroughly enjoyed our 15 minutes chill-out time, away from our busy office.”