Putting Sleep On The Agenda

 

We can all be part of the solution to an official public health problem

We’ve all been there — dragging yourself through a workday when you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Not only is it unpleasant, it makes everything more difficult and depletes the quality, accuracy and creativity of your work. Let’s not even mention your level of patience when dealing with other colleagues.

If you manage people, sleep issues can compromise all the good things you do. If you suffer from sleep issues, you will be far less receptive to even the best management and culture in the world. If you didn’t sleep well, it will be hard to get your attention or full engagement in a project.

Your workday demands energy that only sleep can provide.

Consider the many demands your workday makes on you- such as maintaining focus, solving problems, making decisions and recalling important information. You have to collaborate with your colleagues and respond to their concerns. You need to be ‘on call’ for client calls and internal meetings and, last but not least, you need the physical stamina to make it through the day.

Sleep is the food of the brain. Not only the quantity counts, but the quality does as well. It has a significant impact on your neurological performance.

The better you sleep, the happier you live and work.

More than one-third of Americans suffer from poor sleep. So much so that the Center for Disease Control has designated poor sleep as an official public health problem.

It’s surprising how little sleep is discussed at work, and it has been proven that a short, restorative nap can have a big impact. Fortunately, working from home makes that a lot easier.

It’s important to respect your sleep. It’s more than just downtime. It’s a vital part of your wellness routine — along with diet and exercise.

It’s also important to create a better sleep environment — such as a supportive bed and a cool dark room. But it’s even more important to develop good sleep habits like a regular bedtime and activities that slow you down before you down before bed and let your mind go.

At work, you can do your part by having open conversations and discussing the challenges and wellness programs that can play a role in improving everyone’s sleep. We can all play a part of the collective solution.

It can be a major force for good.