In today’s competitive job market and labor force, it’s critical to have every edge you can get. Research has shown that one of the easiest ways to be a better, more marketable employee could be as simple as hitting that snooze button for a few more minutes. Here are four of the ways that better sleep can improve your job performance.
Better memory
Whether it’s remembering last quarter’s numbers or your desk mate’s birthday, a good memory is critical in maintaining a positive influence in the workplace. Adequate sleep improves the brain’s ability to recall information, as well as learn new skills. To stay ahead of the curve and continue to improve your abilities, sleep is the key.
Improved efficiency
Sleep allows the brain to rebuild and restore itself. It helps you focus and multitask better, significantly cutting down the amount of time it takes to complete a task. It also cuts down on the number of mistakes made, improving the accuracy of your work. The ability to finish projects quickly and correctly is a sought-after trait in employees and should make you a valuable asset to any organization.
Enhanced creativity
Whether you’re in a creative field or not, thinking outside of the box is essential to any job. Problem-solving and writing skills improve with sleep along with other higher-level cognitive abilities. These make it easier to complete assignments by finding new ways to approach and tackle them.
Better coworker relations
Proper sleep can significantly boost your mood and energy. Instead of being irritable, disinterested, or impatient, someone who has gotten enough sleep is typically excited and upbeat. These characteristics are ideal for getting along with coworkers to network or complete projects and should help you climb the corporate ladder.
Sleep Tips
- It’s probably time for a new mattress. Older mattresses tend to only last around seven years and can quickly start causing back problems if not replaced. If you can’t remember when you bought it, it’s probably time to replace. Newer, foam mattresses will help you sleep throughout the entire night in comfort and can last longer than ten years.
- Make sure you’re getting between seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Sleeping too little or too much can throw your internal clocks off and upset your health and overall wellbeing. If you slip off schedule for a night of two, just realize that it might take a week to recover.
- If you live in the city, you might be getting too much light and sound in your bedroom. The ideal sleeping environment is dark and quiet, so if you have city lights or noises coming through your window, invest in heavy, blackout curtains. These should eliminate any extra light and help keep out most outside sound.
A good sleep can play a critical role in your job performance by helping your memory, improving your efficiency, enhancing your creativity, and creating better coworker relations. Follow the tips above and sleep your way to better work performance!