Adequate sleep has a major impact on our well-being. People can only perform at optimum, or even satisfactory, levels when they are well rested. Sleep deprivation impacts all areas of life and can have a profound effect on productivity at work. Our quality of life is measured by how we take care of our well-being, and sleep is one of the most important things we can do to take care of ourselves. Helping employees appreciate the need for optimal sleep patterns can go a long way to enhancing their productivity and overall well-being.
There are three occurrences during sleep that promotes physical recovery in the body while your bodies tissues repair and strengthen.
Your heart rests, and your blood pressure changes throughout the night to promote cardiovascular health.
Your body produces hormones that help your immune system fight infections.
Your brain creates and maintains pathways that are critical for memory formation and retention which help improve your mental health, mood, and brain function.
When quality and quantity of sleep are at risk, we are unable to function properly and don’t have the capacity to perform tasks up to par. This means lower productivity, higher absenteeism, and reduced job performance. Promoting sleep and self-care at the workplace is essential to keep employees healthy, happy, and successful. Experts recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. However, as many as 35% of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep at night, and up to 70% report feeling sleep deprived regularly.
There are several ways to improve your sleep if you are sleep-deprived. Having good sleep hygiene means you practice habits that support sleeping well on a regular basis. There is no one-size-fits-all sleep hygiene routine, as there are a plethora of healthy habits that can improve your sleep. Try creating a sleep routine (no, sleep routines are not just for babies!). Wind down with a cup of herbal tea before bed, avoid afternoon caffeine, go to bed and wake up around the same time every day, limit technology and bright lights before bed and try reading instead, or even try meditating!
The better sleep we get, the better quality of life we will have. Many people view diet and exercise as the most important practices to take care of our well-being, but sleep is just as important! Employers can support employees and help them understand the role sleep plays in well-being by bringing these sleep hygiene practices into the company’s culture. Include a sleep challenge in your wellness program, where employees can understand the benefits of sleeping 7-9 hours per night. This may include using sleep trackers for a certain number of days and education around different sleep best-practices. Getting creative and making these challenges fun and competitive gets employees excited and involved!
Want to start integrating sleep into your wellness program? Contact us to learn more about what we can offer your organization.