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Companies discovering workplace naps are good for your heart and your job performance

Local companies set up rooms for rest and naps
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Sleeping on the job used to be a major no-no. Now for some national and Tampa Bay area-based companies, catching a few zzzz's during the 9-to-5 and feeling mentally and physically refreshed is encouraged.

Google, Nike and even Ben & Jerry's have long encouraged rest and "quiet rooms" for re-charging and grabbing some winks.

With studies showing midday naps are good for coronary and mental health; more Tampa Bay companies are embracing the new sleep-friendly workplace.
 

RELATED: Sleep guidelines for kids and teenagers

Studies show an afternoon nap, even one lasting just 20 minutes, can reduce your risk of a heart attack by as much as a third. That same nap can even improve your job performance.

Memorization and learning skills seem to be enhanced with the extra shut-eye.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Progressive Insurance and even the Pinellas County Regional 911 center installed serenity and meditation rooms to escape the pressures of the job and everyday life.

A younger workforce expects more alternative workplace perks and new approaches. That includes shutting your eyes for a few minutes and re-charging your mental and physical batteries.