We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: working in the care industry can be challenging. That’s why it’s always better to come prepared – as much as we can – with a good night’s rest. This means we can be alert and embrace the unexpected.
There are many things that can impact a decent night sleep, and work can be a big stressor. Things like vicarious trauma and bringing the emotional needs of your clients home with you can mean we’re tossing and turning, thinking about the ways we can make everything better.
It’s a lot of pressure.
Without putting sleep on a pedestal (although, c’mon, it’s up there), learning about the magical effects it can have on your mind and body can ensure we’re striving for 8 hours sleep a night.
Read on for the top 4 reasons you should be maximising your sleep along and improving your sleep hygiene to make you the greatest version of you. Each day.
1. Improved concentration, cognition and productivity
Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just about looking rested, it supports our brain function, too. Sleep deprivation impacts how well we commit to tasks at hand, as well as how well we perform them.
You wouldn’t want your brain surgeon to be operating on 1-hour of sleep, would you? No, so if you work in a role where people expect you to bring the positive energy, and the ability to manage important tasks such as medication or driving someone to an appointment, getting those Zs in is necessary.
2. Supports a healthy immune system
Sleep can have a significant impact on your immune system. For example, if you’re experiencing an infection – requiring your immune system to help battle it off – increasing the amount of sleep you get can promote “host defence.”
Long-term sleep deprivation or reduced deep sleep (NREM) has been shown to lead to chronic inflammation which links to various diseases such as diabetes and neurodegeneration.
Sleep health is critical for overall health. And, as we are working with people who might have weaker immune systems – due to their diagnoses – we would be risking their health, too.
3. Improves social interactions and emotional intelligence
A rested body and mind means we’re better equipped to deal with our emotions, and have more energy for social engagements.
Being social is an incredibly important pillar of life. It promotes a feeling of inclusion, security and connection. But, would you want to hang out with someone who’s running on a few hours of sleep each week? No, thanks. We’ll pass.
Also, if you’re tired, it’s unlikely you will want to interact with others or catch-up outside of work. Withdrawing from your social groups can have you feeling more alone than ever, and could contribute to mental health issues such as low self-esteem or depression.
4. Boosts your heart health
Poor quality sleep and minimal hours of it could contribute to a higher risk of heart disease.
This could be down to the fact that short bursts of sleep can cause high blood pressure; our bodies never get to relax – they remain on edge – meaning our blood pressure can go through the roof.
Key takeaways
Sleep is incredibly important. Aside from all the benefits above of it making us a healthier, happier and more focused person (which are all key qualities of a top care worker), it’s heaven.
Seriously, is there anything better than falling asleep like a baby squirrel and waking up refreshed? No, sir. No there isn’t. But if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep consistently, there might be something going on.
Book in with your doctor to see if there’s something stuck in your mind, preventing you from falling asleep, or whether there’s something else going on. As, from the information above, you can see how much it impacts your life.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6092357/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26972035/
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31176308/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4651462/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33611935/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30920354/