According to a survey by TNS Nipo, on behalf of insurer Silver Cross, more than half (59%) of poorly sleeping workers suffer from concentration problems. A quarter make mistakes due to lack of a good night's sleep.
Short Fuse
When not sleeping enough (less than 7 hours), workers cannot function optimally. ‘In particular, the front part of the brain is sensitive to too little sleep’, says sleep consultant Els van der Helm. ‘Organizing ability, problem solving, and creativity—they are targeted with lack of sleep. You will do a lot less...’
And that is not all. Lack of sleep also has emotional consequences. ‘You are moody and have a shorter fuse, so you get more collisions with colleagues. In addition, it takes more effort to interpret others’.
Worrying About Work
The percentage of overtime brooding men is higher (55%) than women (44%). Women often cannot sleep because of personal problems.
People with sleep deprivation are roughly divided into two groups, says Van der Helm. ‘On the one hand, the people who have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep; andon the other hand, the group that in principlefalls asleep easily, but simply goes to bed too late because other things take priority’.
Powernap
Especially for the second mentioned group, an afternoon nap can be useful, says Van der Helm. Silver Cross calls for such a power nap in the office. ‘It's a good investment of your time. You have at least three hours out of it. Your concentration goes up, just like your mood, memory and ability to learn things’.
The ideal nap lasts 25 minutes. ‘You should not get into the deep stage of sleep and need to wake up from it. That is counterproductive, unless you go through a full sleep cycle of 90 to 100 minutes. But then you do not have the time for work’. The best time for you to close your eyes is 14:00. ‘This is on average the time when you are least sharp and most tired’.
Neglected Child
|It is a nice idea to have an afternoon nap, but there is a great risk that your boss will not be happy when you announce that you are just going to take a nap. ‘There is still a kind of taboo to sleep’, Van der Helm noted. ‘Many people associate sleep with being lazy’.
That must change, she thinks. Companies should encourage a good night's sleep more often, because they benefit themselves with more alert employees. ‘Many companies are concerned with the health of their employees and thereby mainly focus on exercise and diet. Sleep is a bit neglected, but that is where it all begins. If you are not sleeping well, you are also more likely to eat unhealthy and less likely to work out’.
Source: http://www.rtlnieuws.nl