Lack of sleep can influence your productivity at work, and to some extent, it can even end up costing you money. New research conducted on this topic has shown that sleep deprivation is costing the economy up to $66.3 billion in "health bills, lost productivity, and wellbeing". The survey conducted by Deloitte Access Economics shows that 39.8 per cent of Australians don't get enough sleep, which is incurring increased health system costs, productivity loss, and costs to overall wellbeing.
People with sleep disorders or sleep deprivation s generally seek help from our health systems. The costs incurred through these systems were broken down into separate categories: admitted patients, out of hospital medical, pharmaceuticals, and 'others' (which includes community services and research conditions). Most of the costs incurred were due to work place injuries, depression, and MVAs (motor vehicle accidents). These were all due to sleep deprivation and inadequate amounts of sleep. The overriding message here was that the less sleep you get, the more susceptible you are to possible health problems, which can incur substantial costs, an estimated $1.8 billion in 2016-2017 alone.
Productivity loss is a huge consequence of sleep deprivation. Inadequate sleep can have a huge impact on your ability to engage and attend work. If a person is too tired to attend work or actively participate in their job duties, it can impact their performance, which hinders the growth and operation of a business. This can cost a company and even the employee in the long run. If an employee is not fulfilling the duties of their employment, they are a risk to the company and they can potentially be terminated from employment. The effects of sleep deficit can include difficulty staying focused, taking longer to complete tasks, less motivation to learn, and finding it difficult to generate new ideas. It's a double-edged sword. By sleeping less, you are less productive at work during work hours, so you bring work home to complete, which affects your time spent sleeping. The easiest fix is to ensure you get up to 7-8 hours of sleep per night, which will give you a boost in productivity on a day-to-day basis.
Overall wellbeing is another consequence of sleep deficit. The loss of quality of life, loss of leisure, and physical pain are all outcomes of sleep deprivation. According to the Deloitte Access Economics surveythrough the Sleep Health Foundation, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, depression, and general difficulties with sleep were attributed to sleep deprivation. The estimated financial costs of sleep deprivation on a person's overall wellbeing amounted to $40.1 billion in 2016-2017. This is a huge concern that can be readily addressed . There are steps you can take to combat sleep deprivation:
1. Stick to a schedule of the same bed time and wake up times, regardless of the day. This can help to regulate your body clock, which helps set the rhythm for your body's sleeping schedule.
2. Exercise daily. Exercising has shown to help with sleep quality and duration, even if it's for a short 10-minute duration.
3. Have a bedtime ritual. Create a ritual for yourself right before you fall asleep that is relaxing.. Reduce exposure to bright lights and computer screens to help you settle for sleep.
4. If all else fails, consult a Sleep Physician, such as those at Sydney Sleep Centre, for a thorough assessment of your sleep problems and an expert management approach. Sydney Sleep Centre provides services and treatments on sleep disorders.