Better sleep: sleeping on the way to a productive day
Be more productive by sleeping better
Productivity is often associated with doing even more and prioritizing your job. As a result, there is less time left for sleep. In reality, your productivity and performance suffer if you place less importance on your sleep. The link between sleep and productivity is no surprise. Many people feel the effects of a bad night's sleep. In fact, the annual Philips global sleep survey shows that 61% of adults think their memory works less well when they haven't slept well, while 75% admit to being less productive after a bad night's sleep. This makes sense, given the important role that sleep and deep sleep in particular has been shown to play in optimal memory consolidation and improved performance. If you want to tackle sleep problems and improve your performance, it's important to understand the value of sleep and healthy sleep behavior.
For many of us who now work from home while caring for young children or old relatives, it can be difficult to stay focused and function at 100%. In pursuit of productivity, it is important to be aware of the role that your health, and especially your sleep, plays.
Sleep and wellbeing
Research further shows the link between sleep and overall well-being. For example, a survey of more than 4,000 employees at four major US companies found that participants who suffered from insomnia or insufficient sleep experienced the largest drop in productivity. Among other things, they spent three times as much time on time management, felt less motivated and had difficulty with focus, memory and decision making.
Research has shown that poor sleep negatively affects memory, alertness, decision-making and problem solving, all of which play an important role in achieving optimal productivity [1]. According to Dr. David White, Chief Medical Officer Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care, "One night of insufficient sleep (usually seen as less than seven hours) can already have its impact on mood, performance and general well-being. Several such nights in a row have greater effects."
"One night of insufficient sleep (usually seen as less than seven hours) can affect mood, performance and general well-being. Several such nights in a row have greater effects."
Dr. David White
Chief Medical Officer Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care
Sleep is irreplaceable
Quick solutions, such as coffee and energy drinks, are popular remedies for a bad night's sleep. And while many poor sleepers swear by caffeine, which has been proven to actually improve performance in certain cases, Dr. White points to some negative side effects. Caffeine increases heart rate and blood pressure and has a diuretic effect. In addition, it is not a sufficient or comparable substitute for sleep, as it does not provide the same benefits, such as enhancing memory and removing toxic proteins from the brain. Rather than relying on stimulants, Dr. White recommends the following to improve sleep:
