It happens to the best of us. A glazed look in our eyes, heavy eyelids and drooping shoulders about an hour after lunch. No matter how light the lunch itself, and no matter how exciting the project at hand, all of us are liable to a bit of the forty wink syndrome in the afternoon.

Here's the thing however. Contrarian advice this may well be, and especially so for office workers, but you may be best off actually giving in to temptation.The Spanish and many other countries have done just that for centuries by institutionalizing the siesta.

We don't mean you should get in a good three hour slumber session, but a short fifteen minute session of shut-eye can actually leave you feeling perkier than ever before and do wonders for your stress levels.

The body and the mind can do with a bit of a break, just like all of us. Giving your eyes and your mind and brain a little rest in the afternoon can provide enormous benefits to us, particularly when faced with constant fatigue. Studies, in fact, have shown that productivity actually increases post a small nap just after lunch.

People who work from home usually have it easier of course, but it should be too difficult to convince your manager that a small power nap can do you wonders.

Clear your desk, and put the lights out for about twenty minutes. You will be amazed at how fresh, energetic and ready-to-go  you feel.

First off, you manage to de-stress your body. Simply not thinking about the challenges for a little while can do wonders for both your mind and body, and that is only good news for the heart as well! And as it turns out, napping helps your memory as well. A recent study has put forth this non-intuitive conclusion – not thinking about stuff helps you remember it better.

Overall, a small nap in the afternoon can help you keep in better shape, because along with exercise and a healthy diet, what your body needs the most is rest.

So the next time you feel an overpowering urge to catch a nap, give yourself a pleasant treat and go ahead and do just that – nap. Your body will thank you for it.

And remember to incorporate the power nap into your everday schedule, not just when you feel tired.It is important that it becomes part of your everyday routine no matter what you are doing or where you are. And you don't need to apologize to take 15 minutes to recharge your mind and body.