This is a guest post by Jen about how lack of sleep can affect your business.
Health and Business: How Lack of Sleep Can Affect Your Business
Am I super-excited to get up early every morning and head to work? The short answer is no. But, it pays my bills, food and rent among many things. When my paycheck arrives, the stress of work and lack of sleep is sometimes worth it. But not at all costs.
I noticed there are days when I don’t sleep well or not even at all. I down 2 cups of coffee instantly and think I am fueled for work. And I’m wrong. Literally, nothing can replace a good night’s sleep.
Then, instead of stressing about my job or my boss I decided to focus on something else. I brainstormed about what could relax me. I knew it! My stress at work started from lack of sleep or bad sleep.
I thought a new bed or mattress might be a good idea, for starters. This time I was right. I did my research on different types of beds like the Tulo mattress and now things got much better, trust me. When you sleep well, everything is handled with ease and optimism!
You’re not the only one stressed – everyone involved is
It’s simple. If one employee doesn’t do a good job, someone else would have to do it for him. And who has time to do the work of another person? Basically, it’s like a chain reaction – every employee depends on the others somehow.
That’s the whole point of a business. At work, people cooperate and work, yet each with separate tasks and obligations. So if one fails, it will affect the others.
No need to say that the company, in general, would suffer some losses and setbacks.
Physical health changes
Lack of sleep is not just about dark under-eye circles and surviving on coffee all day long. There will be no productivity and lazy staring all day long.
Even worse is that your physical health will suffer. When I don’t sleep day by day, I’m getting a cold or flu more often or I can barely walk. And of course, this means days off work.
So, days off work means cutbacks in a paycheck. I definitely don’t want that!
You may not be the most favorite of all colleagues
This is pretty obvious. If you come to work day after day worn out, you have no will to work or to communicate. When I spend the night awake, the next day I enter the office grumpy and almost looking a mess.
I tried to be communicative and work hard, but it was a day of failure.
The embarrassing moment of falling asleep
You know that funny moment when you travel and suddenly you realize you fell asleep with a funny head position?
Yes, that could happen at the workplace. Except you won’t be leaning on someone’s shoulder, but your eyes would definitely show it. This time it won’t be funny. You might even get a warning from your boss.
It happened to me. I don’t know if I was ashamed because coworkers saw me or because I was criticized. A few more sleepless nights and I would’ve looked for another job.
Your potential will not shine!
Now, it doesn’t matter if you are an artist or office worker. Business is business and you get paid to do your work.
Sometimes I have amazing ideas to share with my boss and colleagues and I get great feedback for it. And also, sometimes I’m so tired I even forget my name, let alone the creative ideas. How can you brainstorm and stand out if you were up all night?
Don’t let that good feedback or promotion get away.
Invest in good rest.