Sleep ““ and lack of it ““ can make a big difference in your work life, says Dwana Ehlman, a registered polysomnographic technologist with St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Sleep Disorders Center.
“Sleep loss and poor quality sleep have been shown to lead to accidents and injuries on the job,” said Ehlman. She notes that workers who complained about excessive daytime sleepiness had significantly more work accidents, especially ones that happened repeatedly.
“Sleep loss dumbs you down,” Ehlman said. “Lack of sleep impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning and problem solving.”
So imagine the mistakes that sleep-deprived employees may be making.
Not only that, but, “sleep deprivation can lead to, heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, weight gain and increased risk of death,” Ehlman said.
With the importance of sleep in mind, here are Ehlman’s suggestions for getting the best rest possible:
- Avoid chemicals that interfere with sleep. That includes alcohol, nicotine, and of course, caffeine.
- Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool.
- De-stress before bedtime by taking a warm bath, reading a book, or watching television, if doing so relaxes you.
- Go to sleep when you are truly tired. If you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room and wait until you are tired before returning to bed.
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
- Nap early, or not at all.
- Don’t eat close to bedtime.
- Exercise early, rather than close to bedtime.
If those tips don’t work, and sleep is affecting your job, it’s time to “consult your physician or sleep specialist,” Ehlman said.
