According to medical professionals people in the UK are struggling to get enough sleep which is leaving them tired during the working day.
Sleep disorder specialist Dr Peter Venn says that the minimum amount of sleep we should be getting is six hours, but that he sees many patients suffering from a lack of sleep, often with embarrassing consequences.
He said: "Some of my patients are terrified of dropping off in meetings or in front of the boss.
"There is evidence that the amount of sleep on average that society is getting is shortening and if you are tired during the day the best thing you can do is address your night time sleeping pattern.
"The best amount of sleep to get is about 7 and a half to eight hours and that’s where mortality rates are the lowest."
A popular solution to not getting enough sleep at night is to take a power nap during the day, but does it work?
On the surface, says sleep specialist Dr Rahul Mukherjee, they can be a good thing. "All necessary sleep is restorative. We have a need for a normal amount of sleep. If people don’t sleep enough at night and have some restorative sleep during the day that’s perfectly fine."
In fact in some countries on the continent daytime sleep is essential because they tend to work late into the evening. This is also the same for families with hectic lives or for some office workers.
Dr Mukherjee said: "A lot of people may not get the sleep they need at night. For example if they have a small child or a partner who works late.
"Anything that makes up for sleep deprivation when it comes in the form of power naps is actually restorative and helps someone remain healthy."
If you are going to take a power nap, the best time to take it according to experts is in the mid afternoon when a 'slump' tends to occur.
Due to the hours of sunlight this is likely to be a bit later in summer than in winter.
One obvious problem with taking a power nap also needs to be addressed, says Dr Venn. "Where do you have them?
"If you are working in the city finding somewhere to have power naps is very difficult."
It probably isn't advisable to take drop off at the desk. Some people choose the lavatory cubical but this brings its own dangers. Another popular choice is the first aid room.
Many companies now provide sleep pods for their employees. Proctor & Gamble and Google have installed ‘EnergyPods’, specifically designed for napping in the workplace.
But how long should a power nap be?
The most commonly cited study, which was conducted back in 2006, suggests that a daytime nap of less than 30 minutes – promotes wakefulness and enhances both performance and learning ability.
However Dr Venn says that the reality isn't as straightforward. A short nap may not sustain you but a longer nap could leave you even groggier.
Deep, established, sleep is the most restorative kind but if you wake during it then it can leave you feeling confused, in a state which is known as 'confusional arousal'.
He said: "If you are talking about nodding off for five minutes then they are not really getting established sleep but if you are talking about someone who is going to sleep for maybe half an hour then you are talking about somebody who has probably gone into established sleep and if they go into the deeper stage of sleep they will wake up feeling groggy.
"If you are getting adequate sleep at night there is not an optimum amount of sleep in the daytime because you don’t need one."
Both experts agree that a power nap should not be used as a replacement for a good night's sleep.
Sleep during the day can disturb the brain's biorhythms because the brain gets used to going to bed at roughly the same time each night and getting up at roughly the same time each day.
Another concerning factor in using power naps to replace lost sleep at night is that often it is that 'dreaming sleep' which suffers.
Dreaming sleep is not responsible for refreshment but it is responsible for the organisation or the brain and laying down of memory.
Dr Mukherjee cautions that taking regular power naps could lead to people being unaware that they may have a sleeping problem.
He said: "A lot of people will ignore abnormal daytime sleepiness but they need to be aware of the red flags. If people need longer than half an hour several times a day there is probably a problem."
The risks for people who are getting disturbed sleep at night include high blood pressure and even an increased risk of type two diabetes.
If you do need a power nap in the day, it is most probably a good sign that you need to get more sleep during the night.
Dr Mukherjee said: "What shouldn’t happen is thinking I can do late nights then I can make it up with power naps. Twenty minutes of power nap during the day is not like a tablet which will definitely work.
"An hour sleep before midnight is worth a couple of hours sleep after midnight."