Is Insomnia Costing You At Work?

We all know that missing a night of rest feels miserable, but even more disturbing is the effect that lack of sleep can have on your brain’s functioning.  For example:

• You’re more distractible.  Between social media, interrupting co-workers, and the constant notifications of modern life, concentration and the ability to recover it quickly when interrupted can be a valuable commodity.  People who don’t get enough sleep, however, have a much harder time returning to the task at hand.

• Impaired decision-making.  Did you know that being under-slept can affect your brain in the same way as being a little bit drunk?  Just as intoxicated people aren’t known for making the best decisions, those who aren’t getting the amount of sleep they need tend to be more impulsive, inaccurate, and emotional.

• Impaired accuracy.  Remember what we were saying about insomnia being like intoxication?  In a scary statistic, sleepy people are even more prone to making mistakes than people who have been drinking.  If your job requires you to make health and safety decisions, this is a major problem.

How To Ensure You’re Well-Rested

So you’re convinced that staying up to work is counter-productive, but is there anything else that you can do to help get your shuteye?  Here’s a few tips:

• Sleep in a dark, cool room

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends

• Make sure that your mattress isn’t keeping you awake–experts say mattresses should be replaced at least every 7-10 years, or whenever they become uncomfortable.

Remember, sometimes the answer is to work smarter, rather than harder.  Getting inadequate sleep is like trying to run a race while carrying a backpack full of rocks.  In this stressful modern environment, it’s important to control what we can–and get to bed early!

Sources:

How Sleep Can Improve Your Productivity At Work – www.sleep.org

Sleep Deprivation In The Workplace – www.webmd.com