tom scrimgeour design.

A siesta is a traditional practice embraced by many healthy cultures around the world. Typically defined as a short nap or period of rest in the early afternoon, it’s a ritual proven to support wellbeing.

Studies show that regular siestas are associated with a 37% reduction in coronary mortality, potentially due to decreased cardiovascular stress brought on by daytime sleep. Sharing this kind of rest experience can help normalise a different cultural rhythm.

Salvador Dalí’s La Siesta de la Cuchara pays homage to the practice. Dalí would nap with a spoon in hand, and as he drifted into deeper sleep, the spoon would fall and wake him, delivering the optimal microdose of rest before slipping into full unconsciousness.

Researchers from the University of Paris found that naps like these can improve complex problem-solving by up to 30%. The term power nap was later coined by Winston Churchill. Ronald Reagan was also a fan. And yet despite these benefits, many Western workplaces have a zero-tolerance policy on sleeping during work hours with some even treating it as a fireable offence.

In contrast, Japanese culture offers a different perspective. Inemuri, meaning “being present while sleeping,” is the accepted practice of napping in public perhaps even during meetings. A seen sign of dedication and hard work.

I invite you to consider: what if a simple object could help shift how we see rest? Could design make space for new cultural norms?

Let’s begin with a nap. Model credit with thanks : India Iles