We all know that good sleep is essential to performing our best. Over the course of your life, you’ve probably been told, “Get a good night’s sleep!” when you’ve got something important the next day. Nevertheless, many of us sleep less with the hope of being more productive.
Sleep and productivity are closely linked and the relationship is quite straightforward. When we are getting good healthy sleep—meeting the recommended guidelines of 7-9 hours of sleep on a regular basis—we are more productive compared to when we are getting less sleep or less consistently good sleep.
How does sleep negatively impact productivity? When sleep is insufficient—perhaps due to cutting back on sleep in order to have more waking hours or because of a sleep disorder such as insomnia—a number of cognitive (aka “mental”) abilities suffer. These include attention, decision-making, problem-solving, memory, and creativity. Sleep deprived individuals are also more prone to errors and accidents and have less energy and motivation than those who sleep well.
Part of the reason for these cognitive effects is because our “sleep architecture” gets thrown off when we are not sleeping adequately. This means that we are not spending enough time in the various stages of sleep to meet our body’s needs during nightly rest. Further, when sleep is inconsistent, our internal clock—which regulates our sleep-wake cycle, hormones, and other body functions—becomes inconsistent. This can negatively impact how our body and mind perform the next day.
The good news is, getting your sleep back on track will positively affect your performance and productivity. Improving your sleep could also be the single most important action you take toward your short- and long-term health goals. If you’re ready to address your sleep issues, let us show you how we can help.
Refer HALEO to your employer, or take our screener to join our virtual clinic and discover more about your sleep.