The Link Between Sleep and Job Performance

How Can Sleep Affect Work?

Sleep supports nearly every system in the body Trusted Source National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. View Source . When we fall asleep, our eyes close, our breathing slows, and our muscles gradually relax. Neurons in the brain switch to a sleeping state Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , beginning many biological processes that refresh our body and mind. The rejuvenation provided by sleep is vital for our cardiovascular and immune systems, as well as our ability to think clearly, learn new information, and manage our emotions.

Research shows that Americans are chronically sleep deprived. Adults should sleep seven hours or more Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source per night, yet almost one-third of Americans Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source regularly get less than this recommended amount. This fatigue inevitably bleeds into the workplace, with one study of U.S. workers discovering that almost 38% of employees Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source experienced fatigue while at work during the previous two weeks.

Trying to work while sleep deprived can significantly impact job performance. Without enough sleep, processes throughout the body work suboptimally. Neurons in the brain become overworked, impairing thinking, slowing physical reactions, and leaving people feeling emotionally drained. These short-term side effects of sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on a day’s work. Chronic sleep deprivation can have even more drastic consequences, including an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cognitive decline, and dementia.

The Effects of Sleep Loss

Sleep loss can make it more challenging to maintain focus, attention, and vigilance Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Struggling to stay awake uses mental energy, making it more difficult to stay focused on long tasks and those that require concentration. This decrease in focus may be related to the impact of microsleeps Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , which are brief episodes of non-responsiveness that cause lapses in attention.

People who are sleep deprived are also more likely to make errors and omissions Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , partially due to increased reaction times Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . In some professions, impaired reaction times may mean missing an important phone call or not responding quickly in conversation. In other professions – like doctors, first responders, and truck drivers – slow reaction times can be dangerous.

Working while sleep deprived can leave people feeling more irritable, angry, and vulnerable to stress Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Emotional reactions are amplified Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in stressful or negative situations, leading to overreacting at inappropriate times. Stress and irritability felt during the workday can then carry over into home life, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Over time, chronic sleep loss increases the risk of more serious mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, that can make being productive at work even more challenging.

The Economic Impact of Sleep Deprivation

Fatigue has a massive economic impact, costing employers billions of dollars a year. It is estimated that reductions in productivity and motivation, along with health care costs related to fatigue, cost individual employers around $1,967 annually per employee Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . When these losses in productivity are added up, fatigue at work costs companies in the U.S. around $136.4 billion dollars a year Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

Blurring the Line Between Work and Home

Increased connectivity has made it easier than ever to work outside of an office, often blurring the line between being at work and being at home. Without a sufficient boundary between work life and home life, people may sacrifice personal needs to complete more work tasks. In fact, research suggests that being able to psychologically detach from work Trusted Source Science Direct The leading platform of peer-reviewed literature that helps you move your research forward. View Source after clocking out decreases the negative effects of work-related stress.

Many jobs blur the line between work life and home life, either due to high demands on employees or the nature of the work itself. Doctors, on-call workers, and work-from-home employees are often available by email, text, or instant message around the clock. Industrial workers, nurses, pilots, and other shift workers are often required to work at times that contradict with a normal sleep period, sometimes resulting in sleep disorders like shift work disorder.

Sleep deprivation can affect all employees and lead to serious workplace accidents. Knowing the risks of sleep loss on job performance, it is important for people in all fields to find ways to get consistent, quality sleep.

Improving Job Performance

If sleep loss is causing you to be excessively tired at work, it might be time to make some changes. Getting consistent, quality sleep can help you perform better at work, reduce your reaction time, and leave you feeling more motivated during the day. A few simple lifestyle adjustments can improve your sleep quality and optimize work performance. 

• Assess your priorities: It is common to sacrifice sleep in order to finish work, watch television, or socialize. Consider the ways you justify staying up past your bedtime and decide if these activities are worth the side effects associated with sleep deprivation. 
• Seek professional support: If your work schedule is causing you to lose sleep, it may be helpful to discuss this issue with your supervisor, your labor union, or your company’s human resources department. Research shows that allowing for psychological detachment after work hours and supporting employees’ needs for consistent sleep pays dividends by improving concentration and productivity during the workday.
• Be realistic: Not everyone can change their work schedule and many people need to work shifts that conflict with their ideal sleep-wake cycle. If you struggle to find flexibility in your work schedule, you can consider other adjustments to your routine to help you stay awake when you need to.
• Improve your sleep hygiene: Sleep hygiene is all about fostering good habits that promote restful sleep. Make a personalized plan for optimizing your bedroom environment, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, fine-tuning a bedtime routine, and eliminating any daytime habits that are making it more difficult to sleep.
• Talk to your doctor: Doctors and sleep specialists are experienced in helping people who are having sleep problems. Your doctor can help you create a plan for improving your sleep and offer personalized tips for managing work-related fatigue.