Research by Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) and nonprofit foundation the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa) confirms the importance of sleep to cognitive performance in the approach to World Sleep Day on 13th March.
Sleep helps the brain work properly.
When we are asleep our body is busy repairing muscles, consolidating memories, releasing hormones and regulating growth and appetite.
If sleep is cut short, the brain and body do not have time to replenish and we wake up less prepared to concentrate, make decisions, or engage fully with the world.
Cognitive performance research studies conclude that sleep deprivation has a negative impact upon almost all brain functions such as decision making, solving problems, remembering things, controlling emotions / behaviour and coping with change.
Reaction times may be slower, more mistakes may be made, and tasks often take longer.
All of these will impact mental performance and employee relationships at work.
AWA is a science-based workplace transition practice that is interested in human performance.
To find out more about sleep and the other factors that impact cognitive performance, visit AWA’s cognitive fitness archives: www.advanced-workplace.com/category/cognitive-fitness/.
This can help establish a routine, reinforcing the body’s sleep-wake cycle.
- Create a bedtime ritual – experts believe that doing the same things each night tells your body that it’s time to rest.
Warm baths, reading or listening to relaxing music eases the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.
- Avoid heavy meals, stimulating activities, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine before bedtime.
- Exercise can help prompt you into a restful night’s sleep, but only if you do it during the day (not in the late evening).
- Minimise light and noise when trying to sleep – turn off electronic devices like tablets and phones as changes in light can kid your body that it’s time to wake up.
- Maintain a comfortable bedroom temperature so your body doesn’t overheat and dehydrate while you are asleep.
- Manage stress – having too many things on your mind can disrupt sleep.
There are many ways to address stress, depending on the source.
For example, writing down the things that are on your mind may help “park” them for tomorrow.
To find out more about sleep and the other factors that impact cognitive performance, visit AWA’s cognitive fitness archives: www.advanced-workplace.com/category/cognitive-fitness/.
