Increase Work Productivity with Better Sleep

Sleep. What is sleep? Who needs it? We’ve all heard the “sleep is for the weak” joke. Some nights not sleeping is unavoidable, we tell ourselves. We have a paper to finish or a presentation to complete or sometimes we just want to play video games the entire night. To each their own is what we can say to this.

But when it comes to work productivity and sleep, is there a correlation between the two? When you’re feeling tired or drowsy, your brain’s not functioning to its full potential. People become less creative. 29% of people had fallen asleep or were very sleepy at work, according to a 2009 study. A more recent study of 4,188 US workers suggests that their efficiency and performance have gotten worse because of a lack of sleep.

However, studies show that overwork is the central cause of poor sleep. Yes, we’re not sleeping well because we’re working too much. What’s the result? Work productivity decreases because of a lack of sleep. 

How much sleep do we need?

When asking doctors and experts how much sleep we need, we’ll most likely receive several answers. Some will say 5 hours. Some will say 6. Or we still hear doctors say 8 hours. But the most accurate response to this question is it varies.

The cost of poor sleep

The productivity cost of sleep-deprived workers in the US is $411 billion a year and around 1 million lost workdays, according to a 2016 study. For more perspective, it is roughly 11 lost days of productivity and $2,280 in lost wages, annually.

Better sleep, increased productivity

Fortunately, improving sleep is the remedy to increase one’s productivity. Good, adequate sleep refreshes your brain and improves its health. With good sleep, you can – have better judgment and decision-making skills, react and think faster, improve your memory, be more accurate at work, and have a lower risk of burning out.

Do you get enough sleep but is still not as productive as you want to be? Learn how to manage yourself to be more productive at work. Read our blog, How to Manage Time Wisely at Work, to boost your productivity.

Need to boost your team’s productivity? Check out our team’s favorite collaborative tools.