What does it say about us as a culture when we can’t find time to sleep? Especially given that sleep is so foundational to health, let alone GOOD health!

Well, according to a new survey from CareerBuilder, 58 percent of US workers feel they don’t get enough sleep, and 61 percent say lack of sleep has a negative impact on their work. But the kicker is, they aren’t getting sleep because of work; 44 percent report that it’s thinking about work that keeps them up at night. So, in order to get the extra sleep they so desperately need, 21 percent must then call in sick.

From the article:

“More than 3,200 workers across industries in the private sector participated in the nationwide survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder from November 4 and December 1, 2015.”

Just how much sleep should you get? At least 7 hours. But, listen to your body, it will let you know. Because listening to what your body needs is better than trying to catch up on sleep at the office, which is what some do! It should come as no surprise then that nearly 39 percent report that they would take advantage of a designated “nap room” if it was offered at their place of work.

More from the article:

“Rest is an undervalued necessity these days,” says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. “We see more and more workers check into the office at all hours of the day, give up vacation time and work even when they’re sick. Yet it’s not necessarily making us more productive, and companies are starting to recognize that. We’re starting to see companies put more emphasis on employee wellness and work/life balance – whether it’s providing designated ‘nap rooms’ for employees, encouraging them to take advantage of their vacation time or simply giving them more flexibility in their work schedules.”

And remember, sleep deprivation doesn’t just hurt workers but business, too. PR Newswire reports that 61 percent say “lack of sleep has had an impact on their work in some way, including the following”:

  • It makes the day go by slower: 30 percent
  • It makes me less motivated: 27 percent
  • It makes me less productive: 24 percent
  • It affects my memory: 17 percent
  • It makes me crabby with co-workers: 13 percent
  • It takes me longer to complete tasks: 13 percent
  • It makes me make mistakes: 13 percent

The moral of the story? Get some rest, so when its vacation time, you can do more than just sleep.

 

Source: Fox News and PR Newswire