Sleep, or lack thereof, has an immense impact on the day-to-day productivity of business managers. In our globalized, ‘always-connected’ work culture, it is becoming increasingly important to adhere to a strict sleeping schedule. At present, more than 30% of Indians are believe to experience occasional insomnia while 9% deal with the condition on a daily basis according to research published in Neurology India. Due to the injurious snowball that insomnia can have in the workplace, it is vitally important to identify and address it in a timely manner.
Lack of sleep impacts your productivity
Not sleeping enough can have far-reaching consequences for an individual. Not only can it thwart a manager’s ability to perform to the best of his ability but it can also lead to other emotional and physical effects which can be detrimental to the entire team. Sleep deprivation often results in compromised organisational performance which includes increased frustration when working on projects, difficulty in staying focused during meetings and finding it increasingly difficult to work with challenging colleagues. On the health front, prolonged insomnia can lead to obesity, diabetes, and depression, all of which can result in an even further decrease in productivity.
How to achieve sounder sleep
You can achieve sounder sleep by making simple changes to your lifestyle such as engaging in regular exercise and following a healthy diet that includes limited caffeine and alcohol consumption. Where possible, stick to a sleep schedule, even over weekends, as it helps to regulate your body’s internal clock which makes it increasingly easier to fall asleep at night. If you have trouble staying asleep at night, also try to avoid power naps as far as possible, regardless of how tempting they may be.
Ensure you sleep on a comfortable bed and pillows
The mattress and pillows you sleep on have a huge impact on the quality of your sleep and your subsequent productivity in the office. If you are sleeping on an old mattress that is either very thin or lumpy (or both) chances are it offers no support to your neck and back, resulting in your tossing and turning endlessly throughout the night. You may also wake up feeling battered and bruised, with your muscles and joints in constant pain. Acquiring a new mattress and comfortable pillow can turn out to be one of the best investments you have ever made in your own personal well-being, affording you all the benefits associated with sound sleep.
Apart from enabling us to wake up feeling energised and ready to face a trying day, sound sleep also keeps us healthy, reducing the number of sick days needed from work. Making the effort to get enough sleep every night will reward you in countless ways, including an immense boost in your productivity as well as a more focused approach to management.