Sleep is an essential function of everyday life, and the lack of good sleep has the potential to impact one in countless ways. One of the ways in which this occurs is in the workplace, where poor sleep can wreak havoc on one’s performance. Below, we look at the links between sleep and job performance.
Links Between Sleep and Job Performance
For this reason, it’s important to try and get as reasonable and steady sleep regimens so that you don’t lose your performative edge at work. If this is something that you’re concerned about, consider taking a look at this review of the connections between sleep and performing well at work if you’re considering insomnia treatment.
How Does Sleep Affect Work?
Doing one’s work efficiently and effectively requires that the body is relaxed and of good energy. Getting good sleep is one of the most dependable ways to maintain these two qualities.
The research shows that most Americans are sleep-deprived in a chronic sense. Healthy adults should be receiving seven or more hours of sleep a night, however, many adults are unable to achieve this metric. Some studies have shown that most Americans will experience some level of fatigue at their job at some point.
Some of the effects of sleep deprivation can be quite dire. These include the following possible conditions:
- Risk of heart disease
- Risk of obesity
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia
The Impact of Sleep Loss
Consistent sleep loss has the potential to impact one’s cognitive abilities quite profoundly. Fighting to stay awake uses up mental energy in its own way and can make it more difficult to stay focused on intense tasks.
Individuals who are sleep-deprived are much more likely to make errors and omissions in their work. This is partially due to slower reflexes and increased reaction times associated with sleep deprivation.
Overworking yourself when you are lacking sleep can also make you feel irritable, angry, and stressed. Emotions, both negative and positive, can become amplified and erroneous. This stress from one’s work life can bleed into stress in the home, which creates a negative feedback loop for individuals in terms of the stress that they experience.
Affecting the Economy
Fatigue has a massive economic impact on individuals and overall costs individuals billions of dollars each year. The productivity and motivation losses associated with sleep deprivation cost both the individual and the economy large amounts of money annually, with some studies estimating that it costs the USA around $136 billion annually.
Remote Work Considerations
The proliferation of remote work and increased interconnectivity in individual’s daily lives has exacerbated the country’s sleep issues. The traditional boundaries between work and home life have eroded quite noticeably. Studies have indicated that these boundaries were actually quite essential for helping individuals decrease the stress that individuals take on from work.
Ironically, many of those who are affected the most by this blurring of boundaries are those who need to be the most attentive at work to perform their jobs efficiently. Construction workers, surgeons, nurses, and firefighters all perform essential services that require them to be fully attentive in order to successfully execute their work.
Improving Your Performance
If you’re worried that your sleep loss is causing you to become tired at work and slip on your performance, there are steps you can take in order to combat the negative consequences associated with this. Aside from just attempting to get more consistent quality sleep, consider these other steps:
- Assess your priorities: Ask yourself if you’re prioritizing sleep in the way that it should be. Activities like socializing, watching TV, and the like can distract one from times when they should be getting high-quality sleep and rest.
- Improve your sleep hygiene: Good sleep hygiene can help one promote good habits that promote restful sleep. Things like making your space consistent and fine-tuning a routine before bed can help immensely with this.
- Observe your schedule: It’s easier to mold your sleep schedule around your work life than the other way around. Consider this when you’re scheduling out your day.
- Bring in a professional: If minute changes to your work schedule aren’t making the difference that you’re looking for, consider seeking out the services of a sleep professional in order to improve your situation.
The Top Sleep Doctor of NYC
Sleep MD NYC is one of the city’s most reliable venues for receiving quality care in relation to one’s sleep. If you’re having sleep issues and would like to discuss your situation with a professional, consider speaking with our sleep doctor.
