Imagine if American businessmen and women traded their late afternoon conference calls and post lunch meetings for a quick siesta. The country would become suddenly quiet as corporate executives climbed on or under their desks for 20 minutes of shut-eye.

The Spaniards have no problem living such a life. The siesta is an established part of Spanish culture, and though workaholic Americans will most likely never stop their business day for a mid afternoon nap, recent medical research has found that taking such a break after lunch makes more sense than ever.