Sleep and Productivity

”I’m always on the go. I love doing things until I hit rock bottom. Then I need my 12 hours of sleep, and I’m on the go again.”

– Maria Sharapova

Sleep and productivity are two aspects of life which cannot be ignored and undermined. They go hand in hand for a fulfilling life. The value of adequate sleep for one’s productivity is vital and the same has been proved over and again.

Poor and inadequate sleep results in a variety of cognitive deficits. Sleep deprivation strongly impairs human functioning which translates into inability to maintain attention, decreased alertness, delayed reaction time, dulled perception, altered emotional processing and inability to think clearly. This has a negative impact on productivity.

Sleep Deprivation affects economic productivity!

Evidence implicates negative aspects of sleep deprivation on cognitive or motor performance. This becomes more important in those involved in creative, strategic operations and job profiles that require constant learning and brain storming.

An analyses conducted in Australia pointed towards high direct and indirect costs associated with sleep disorders. According to an estimate, financial costs of suffering is around 1.55% while non- financial costs represents 4.6% of Australian gross domestic product.

In the United States, the statistics indicate that loss of productivity to the extent of US$ 136.4 billion can be attributed to sleep deprivation. However, the data in India is still scant, which could be an indication of undermining the impact of sleep disorders in our country.

Is only economic productivity at stake?

The safety is also at stake due to sleep deprivation. A Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) report indicated that around 40% of road traffic accident on Lucknow –Agra highway can be attributed to sleep deprived drivers.

An Italian study by Garbarino et al observed that sleep disorders resulted in more than doubling of the work accidents compared to otherwise healthy individual. Workers suffering from sleep deprivation leading to excessive daytime sleepiness are twice as likely to injure themselves while at work than those without sleep disorder.

Occupation such as heavy machine operations and vehicle driving are particularly at a greater risk and safety hazard if sleep deprived. Several studies conducted on sleep apnea and occupational hazards have implicated that this disorder is common in commercial drivers. This puts road safety at risk leading to an increased number of road traffic accidents.

The indifference and under diagnoses associated with sleep disorders can be serious health and safety concerns for the society as a whole.

Impact of sleep deprivation on Social interaction and behaviour at workplace

Mood changes associated with sleep deprivation are a major cause of troublesome interpersonal interaction and may destroy positive work culture of otherwise harmonious organisation. These mood changes may also lead to unusual quietness and social withdrawal which affects productivity.

Pilcher et al noted that sleep deprivation negatively impacts the individual’s response to positive stimuli which could result in more focused responding to perceived negative events. As a result, there is a greater possibility of misjudgment, miscommunication and tension between coworkers. 

Image source- https://www.wrike.com/blog/productivity-tip-get-more-sleep-infographic/

Experts believe that sleep deprivation is associated a greater risky decision making. This could lead to compromise of safety and decisions where losses outweigh the benefits. Excessive sleepiness is also found to be associated with aggressive behavior, mood disorders and absenteeism.

Lack of sleep is a health hazard!

The association of good sleep with good health is proven time and again. Long term sleep deprivation is found to be associated with health problems like weight gain, blood sugar dysregulation, indigestion & gastric problems, heart diseases, etc. This negative effect on many health-related physiological indices suggests that helping workers prioritize good sleep habits is essential for promoting productivity in the workers and long-term organizational success.

Promoting Healthy Sleep in Workers!

Sleep quality and duration has direct impact on functioning of employees on many levels. Developing and promoting healthy habits for proper sleep hygiene is imperative for a productivity of an individual and organisation. It is recommended by the experts to have a 7-9 hours of good sleep to maintain a productive and healthy life.

Introduction and promotion of healthy sleep habits at organisational level would definitely be associated with good productivity and organisational growth.

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