As Delhi and much of northern India grapple with another intense summer, the sight of labourers, drivers and street vendors sleeping during the hottest part of the day has become increasingly common. To many, these afternoon naps are often seen as a sign of laziness. But a study conducted among low-income workers in Chennai suggests the reality may be very different.
Study Findings on Sleep Deprivation
Researchers found that many participants suffered from severe sleep deprivation caused by heat, noise, overcrowding and poor housing conditions. The study also found that short afternoon naps improved productivity, attention, wellbeing and even financial decision-making, while attempts to increase night-time sleep had little measurable effect.
Implications for Urban India
The findings raise wider questions about how extreme heat, poverty and inadequate housing affect workers across India's cities. As climate change pushes temperatures higher, what looks like idleness may increasingly be a necessary strategy for coping with exhaustion and protecting health.
