Insomnia Eye Opener: Over $100 Billion Is Lost To Exhausted And Tired Workers

Did you know lack of sleep resulting in exhaustion is one of the most serious health- related problems in the workplace. It has also been shown that sleep deprivation is a major cause of under-productivity, absenteeism and workplace accidents. You know the routine...

You wake up at the same time every morning, you get dressed in your work attire, you sit in traffic, and then stare at a computer screen for hours while at your desk. You are beginning to feel unproductive and extremely lazy. You feel that maybe your life needs a change, but before you start searching through the want ads, you might want to implement a change in your lifestyle first. Your attitude toward your job could have a great deal to do with your sleeping, or lack thereof. If you are tossing and turning every night, this could put you into a funk when you wake up every morning, and so going to work might seem like even more of a chore.

Employers Take Notice
According to the National Sleep Foundation sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are estimated to cost Americans over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, and property and environmental damage. Sleep in America poll found that 51% of the American workforce reported that sleepiness on the job interfered with the amount of work they got done. One out of four adults had difficulty getting up for work two or more days per week.

Insomnia Effects On Employees
Tired employees can experience more difficulty in concentrating on what they are doing, listening to what others are saying, solving problems on the job, making decisions and relating to their co-workers. Constant exhaustion will make simple tasks seem quite tedious to the point where you might not want to do them at all. Your overall performance suffers simply because you are not able to fall asleep, or stay asleep, every night. Your grogginess will slowly but surely begin to catch up with you, and your coworkers and supervisor will surely see this lackluster effort. It is time to tackle the problem before it gets out of control, and ends up getting you fired.

Find out the reasons behind your insomnia, and then you can determine if you still are feeling burnt out at your job. Perhaps it is the stress of your work situation that is causing you to wake during the night. Or maybe you feel that you spend so much time there that you have no time for yourself. First, you must begin to relax so that you are able to allow yourself to fall asleep, and take it from there.

On your day off relax. Try some of the tips from the free e-book "Best Practices Guide: 101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia".

1. Make sure your bed is large enough, and comfortable. If you are disturbed by a restless bedmate, switch to a queen- or king-size bed. Test different types of mattresses. Try therapeutic shaped foam pillows that cradle your neck or extra pillows that help you sleep on your side. Get comfortable cotton sheets.

2. Make your bedroom primarily a place for sleeping. It is not a good idea to use your bed for paying bills, doing work, etc. Help your body recognize that this is a place for rest or intimacy.

3. Keep your bedroom peaceful and comfortable. Make sure your room is well ventilated and the temperature consistent. And try to keep it quiet. You could use a fan or a "white noise" machine to help block outside noises.

4. Hide your clock. A big, illuminated digital clock may cause you to focus on the time and make you feel stressed and anxious. Turn the clock so you can't see it or put it in a drawer.

5. Keep a regular schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday, even on the weekends. Keeping a regular schedule will help your body expect sleep at the same time each day. Don't oversleep to make up for a poor night's sleep - doing that for even a couple of days can reset your body clock and make it hard for you to get to sleep at night. Even if you haven't slept well.

6. Incorporate bedtime rituals. Listening to soft music, sipping a cup of herbal tea, etc., cues your body that it's time to slow down and begin to prepare for sleep.

7. Relax for a while before going to bed. Spending quiet time can make falling asleep easier. This may include meditation, relaxation and/or breathing exercises, or taking a warm bath. Try listening to recorded relaxation or guided imagery programs.

After you allow yourself to feel calm, you can head to bed for the entire night and wake up with a better outlook. You might find that it really is time to start looking for a more stimulating work environment. But make sure you exhaust every effort to fall asleep, and don't just simply remain exhausted.Don't allow insomnia to get the best of you. Get your body and mind on the right track to enjoy a full night of deep sleep. Break the cycle of a negative attitude and mediocre performance at work.

Go to sleep, enjoy the time you have to relax, wake up, and tell yourself that you are willing to give it another chance. Once you are free from the dark cloud of insomnia, you might realize that you actually do enjoy your job. And if not, you will certainly have more energy to begin the search for a new one.