Best Cure For Job Woes Might Be Good Night's Sleep
There never seems to be enough time in the day. Your 45-minute commute takes an hour and a half because of traffic. The eight hours you're supposed to be working easily turns into 10 or more as employers require their employees to do additional work.
Then you want to go out with friends or spend time with the family. This isn't even mentioning the daily errands that you have.
So to squeeze everything in, sleep is often sacrificed, and that's a problem, doctors say.
First and foremost, you could be a danger to yourself and others, said Dr. Barbara Phillips, a professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Kentucky.
"People do need to know if they are working long hours ... they are at risk for car crashes and death," she said.
At the office, it looks like you get more done by staying and working - but it's not very efficient. Phillips said your decision-making and other mental abilities could be limited.
"You'll get more out of the work you do have if you're well-rested," she said. Seven hours a night is adequate.
You'll also likely be able to remember things more effectively by getting a good night's rest as sleep helps consolidate your memory, Phillips said.
Employers should also be concerned about the amount of sleep their workers get. Not only are employees at risk for on-the-job accidents for not thinking clearly, their job satisfaction is tied to rest, according to a study published last year.
Brent Scott, a University of Florida doctoral management student, took surveys of workers at a Florida insurance company. For three weeks, he asked them about their sleep quality, job satisfaction and their attitudes.
"They actually evaluate their job more satisfying on days following a good night's sleep," he said.
Negative Emotions
If people are unhappy, it may not be long before they're looking for new jobs, while their old businesses have to deal with increasing turnover costs.
The study also found that people who didn't get adequate rest were less happy than those who did sleep well.
"We know that negative emotions lead to negative behaviors on the job," Scott said.
Just the attitude can get you into trouble, however, because people don't want to be around negative individuals, and the poor attitude can also be perceived as hostility toward others.
Consistently not getting enough rest is linked to other problems, including depression and stress, said Phillips, who is chairwoman of the National Sleep Foundation.
It's not always work that keeps you awake at night. A snoring spouse or a pet could be the reason you're not sleeping well.
Caffeine and nicotine degrade sleep quality as well, Phillips said. Antihistamines aren't a good remedy. They make you drowsy for a long time, but you're not sleeping.
One option is to keep a sleep diary. You jot down what's going on throughout the day: what you're eating, stressors and when things happen.
Phillips said by maintaining a log of events, you might be able to find a pattern that is responsible for your sleep woes. If you're unable to resolve the problems yourself, consult a doctor.
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