How Sleep Impacts Your Work, And How To Get More Of It
According to a Journal of Vision Study, a lack of sleep can make you less productive in the workplace. The sleepier you are, the longer it takes you to complete tasks. Sleep deprivation is linked to short-term stunted mental ability, and may make it more difficult for you to accomplish your objectives with ease.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, after several nights of losing sleep—even a loss of just 1–2 hours per night—your ability to function suffers as if you haven’t slept at all for a day or two.
Positive Impacts:
On the flip side, there are many benefits that come with adequate sleep, which include:
- improved memory
- increased creativity
- lower stress levels
- higher ability to fight depression
- increased problem-solving ability
- overall improved bodily functioning
Improved Memory, Problem-Solving Ability, Creativity, Oh My!
According to a study by Michigan State researches, sleep improves “working memory capacity”–a kind of memory associated with vocabulary, decision-making, reading comprehension, and problem-solving.
“If you are trying to learn something, whether it’s physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice,” Dr. Rapoport, associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, says. “But something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better.”
Higher Ability to Fight Depression
Oftentimes, people with depression suffer from insomnia. In a study by Rachel Manber at Stanford, it was concluded that once someone’s insomnia was cured, their depression treatment success doubled.
Overall Improved Bodily Functioning
Body functioning improves overall when the body has had adequate rest. It makes you easier to move, act, and think. It increases dexterity, and allows your hormones and chemicals to help you function more productively.
Lower Stress Levels
A study by the American Psychological Association showed getting less than six hours of sleep a night suggests burnout on the horizon for employees.
“Sleep can definitely reduce levels of stress, and with that people can have better control of their blood pressure,” Dr. Jean said to Health.com. “It’s also believed that sleep affects cholesterol levels, which plays a significant role in heart disease.”
Still Suffering From Lack Of Sleep? Here Are A Few Ways To Combat It:
Power Down Your Electronics
Your electronics and their blue lights can keep you and your brain up later than you intend. Power down all electronics an hour or so before bed, and you’ll be able to fall asleep faster.
No Naps Close To Bedtime
Napping too close to bedtime can throw off your sleep cycle and fool your body into
thinking it received an adequate amount of sleep when it did not. If you have to nap during the day, try napping as early as possible.
Hide Your Clock
Staring at your clock can increase anxiety about the coming day, or the amount of time you have to sleep. Combat this by turning your clock away from you, or placing it far across the room where you can’t see it.
Set A Strong Circadian Rhythm
Try falling asleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time each morning, in order to build your body’s routine. By establishing a circadian rhythm, you will find it easier to fall asleep and wake up every morning.
Don’t Eat Late
Eating too much too late can mess up your digestive system, and can lead to discomfort while you sleep. To be most relaxed, try eating only a light snack and never an hour before you plan on going to sleep.
Rest, Fuel and Go
We offer a 90-day program that encourages healthy behaviors that help people thrive professionally and personally. This is a great way to jumpstart your wellness, and includes many different aspects of your overall physical and mental well-being (including sleep).
Utilizing these tips, you can have a more refreshing night’s sleep, and be more productive in your workplace. No human can function without the fulfillment of biological needs of sleep, movement, and quiet reflection time. When humans thrive, companies prosper. Learn more at Beni.fit.