Sleep Deprivation in the workplace

We’ve all experienced that bad night’s sleep that can hover over us the next day, cloaking us in a low-energy field that infects our body, forcing us to walk zombie-like through the day. Our mood low; alternating between ankle-biting our work colleagues, and sucking from the lifeblood of the coffee mug. A frantic effort to wake from the dead and feel human again. But some people suffer from much worse sleep deprivation, it can last for a short time, or many months if a serious suffer. Sleep deprivation isn’t just a bad night’s sleep, it’s all-consuming. It can be triggered through personal choices, such as nights of binge-watching TV (Netflix series anyone?!) Or because of a traumatic experience, PTSD, medical reasons, or employment choices such as entering the world of shift work and night work.

Lack of sleep symptoms.

Not having enough sleep over time can affect your mind and body greatly. It can be dangerous. It’s important to get good quality sleep otherwise you are at risk of:

Mood changes
Not being able to think clearly which will impact your decision-making
Reaction times are reduced
Attention spans diminish
Lack of energy available to do the tasks you’re responsible for
Hormone imbalances can affect productivity and motivation
Increased chance of medical and mental health issues
Vivid dreams and nightmares

Sleep deficiency is a nightmare.

Sleep deficiency is a real nightmare for those who suffer it. But it can cause you to rebound into REM sleep and trigger nightmares! If that is something you are experiencing then you may be interested in the article we read the other day, which highlighted that Apple are launching a new sleep feature that can detect, prevent and stop nightmares, called NightWare. Currently, for PTSD sufferers in the US, approved by the FDA and available on prescription. It’s mind-blowing how much technology has advanced to be able to offer a digital solution such as this.

Tips for sleeping better at night.

But in the meantime, if you have an issue with your sleep, no doubt you would have tried many of these, but hopefully someone will benefit from this list. (If you have some alternative suggestions, we would like to know them, please comment at the bottom of this article).

Move more during the day
Don’t nap during the day
Create a restful environment in your bedroom
Write down your worries before going to bed
STOP the coffee, alcohol, and internet surfing before bed
Keep the phone out of the bedroom
Keep regular bedtime hours
Use breathing techniques
Don’t force sleep — if it doesn’t work get up, do something, try again
Keep a sleep diary log
Have a pen and paper by your bed; to write down things that pop into your head and keep you awake. Make a note and release your mind, as you don’t need to remember

We urge anyone who is experiencing persistent sleep deprivation to seek help from their doctor and /or the charities set up to help sufferers.

The effects of lack of sleep in the workplace

Someone with a consistent lack of sleep, and trying to battle the symptoms caused by it, are at serious risk of making errors in their judgment at work and having a major accident. Being tired has the same effects as being drunk. Someone who has been awake for over 17 hours, will experience the same as drinking 2 glasses of wine!

More shocking to know is the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear and Challenger space shuttle disasters; and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill were all the result of human error caused by sleepiness!! Source

Combine all this with working alone, it magnifies the potential of something going wrong. Potentially turning a minor mistake into a significant incident in the workplace. As an employer, it’s essential to make yourself aware of the impact sleep deprivation can cause and find ways to help your staff stay safe. It is essential to put systems in place that will help you meet your legal duty of care obligations, which include your Lone Workers. We can offer you a no-obligation insight into how you can stay in control of their safety and protect your business, just by dropping us an email to open a channel of communication.

MyTeamSafe®, an award-winning lone-worker App & proud supporter of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust