What did you see as the strengths and weaknesses of your presentation?
Looking back on my presentation, I feel as though there are many interesting strengths and weaknesses to it. One particular strength is the sources I have provided, which are relatively straightforward, recent and credible. The logical progression of the problem at hand into its solution is clear, and I believe that I have made the multiple justifications for the American siesta quite apparent. There are many different reasons to implement the siesta, from American workers sleeping too little and working too much to providing economic benefits to companies by providing more efficient workers. I did my best to create a clear progression from problem to background to solution, making the arguments easy to follow. I attempted to also create clear, practical logistics to allow companies to incorporate siestas quite easily into their normal routine, thus furthering the appeal of my argument by making it clearer.
In terms of weaknesses in the presentation, I believe that I could use more effective visual aids. The use of images is good and enhances the mood and atmosphere of the presentation for the viewer, but I wish I was able to find/create clear graphs and charts illustrating the actual data. The presentation is more persuasive than educational, and as such there are not many numbers actually mentioned to the audience to support the arguments. I believe I make the points clear, and cite the source of the arguments appropriately, but perhaps it would be better if numbers were given to lend credibility to the arguments. The solution slide is meant to be succinct, but perhaps it could also be filled with more information – however, I elucidate on the benefits and logistics of the siesta in future slides, so I feel justified in simply allowing that slide to make one simple point, and transition the presentation from problem to solution.
-Because your presentation is in a public area, it's possible that it could be viewed by someone with the power to engage the solution you've proposed. If you could put this project into the hands of one person besides your instructor, who would it be and why?
If there was one organization I would put this presentation in the hands of, it would be OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Organization. They would be one of the most effective organizations to implement a country-wide mandatory workplace siesta, as their primary concern is the welfare of workers in the American economy. As a governmental organization, they would have the power to pass legislation and regulations that would allow the siesta to be approved and performed in American workplaces. As the issue of workplace stress and sleep-related stressors is a pressing concern for American workers, and job stress is negatively affecting their health, OSHA could advocate for the siesta as a way to make businesses take better care of their employees. It is hoped that this presentation or one like it would introduce someone at OSHA to the idea of allowing workers to take midday naps in order to increase their health and reduce morbidity – it would also show business leaders that they stand to benefit from healthier, more productive workers. This presentation might be able to put forth the idea of a widespread siesta to match the productivity and reduced stress of European countries.
1: Currently, American workers are being overworked, which is leading to greater stress, which leads to more distraction, less productivity, and greater morbidity. Americans are sleeping less than they did 50 years ago (Lambert, 2005). Poor quality sleep has been linked to work overload and an increase in work stressors, which then diminishes productivity (Knudsen, Ducharme & Roman, 2007; Naska et al., 2007). The American workplace is stressful and full of high pressure situations, which brings about this greater stress.
2: The Spanish siesta has existed for millennia, and the biological need for sleep is accommodated through this ritual. This phenomenon is a common occurrence among sleep cultures like Spain and Italy, in which naps are taken for up to two hours during the hottest parts of the day. This addresses the biological need for sleep, which is established by our circadean rhythms (Smith, 2005).
3: Given the problems of workplace stress, lower productivity and the need to facilitate more beneficial sleep, invoking a mandatory Spanish-style siesta is the suggested solution to the problem of workplace stress and productivity.
4: There are many great benefits to the siesta. Improvements would include reduced employee stress, greater productivity and profitability for companies, and lower employee mortality rates due to reduced heart disease rates (Stein, 2007).
5: The aforementioned biological need for sleep would be met, people would be more energetic in the afternoon, and productivity would subsequently increase (Smith, 2007). The workplace would benefit from a motivated and energetic workforce.
6: Implementing an American siesta would involve changing the logistics of the workplace. Businesses would be suggested to allow an extended lunch break, essentially from 12-2pm, to allow for both a quick lunch and the subsequent nap. Facilities would be required to be provided to the employees to allow for on-site comfortable rest, so that they could get back to work immediately. Companies would be free to change their operating hours accordingly if they feel they need to maximize productivity.
7: This solution provides for the needs of today’s working class by allowing them greater rest and relaxation, making work a more productive and less stressful endeavor. By implementing a siesta, America’s workforce can provide itself a much-needed rest to maintain its emotional and physical health, while also improving economic outcomes.
Works Cited
Knudsen, Hannah K., Lori J. Ducharme, and Paul M. Roman. "Job stress and poor sleep quality: Data from an American sample of full-time workers." Social Science & Medicine 64.10 (2007): 1997-2007.
Lambert, Craig, PhD. "Deep into Sleep. While researchers probe sleep's functions, sleep itself is becoming a lost art". Harvard Magazine, July-August 2005.
Naska, A., Oikonomou, E., Trichopoulou, A., Psaltopoulou, T. and Trichopoulos, D. “Siesta in healthy adults and coronary mortality in the general population.” Archives of Internal Medicine, 167 (2007), 296-301.
National Siesta Day. “Siesta Facts.” Siesta Awareness, 2014. <http://www.siestaawareness.org/pages/siesta-facts.php>.
Stein, Rob. "Midday Naps Found to Help Fend Off Heart Disease", Washington Post, 13 February 2007, p. A14.
