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Hey, you think they make Tempur-Pedic desks?
Here’s a wake-up call for workers everywhere: Your sleepless nights
are costing you. And we’re not just talking about that $19.95 you spent
on the perfect meatloaf pan at 2 a.m.
The average American employee loses about 11.3 days of productivity per year due to insomnia, according to a new study in the journal Sleep.
When converted to cash, that’s about $2,280. And spread across the
national workforce, that adds up to 252.7 days and $63.2 billion down
the tubes. The staggering numbers are based on a survey of 7,500 of us
working stiffs.
But most of these costs aren’t due to sleepyheads skipping work, says
Donna Arand, Ph.D., of the Sleep Disorders Centers at Kettering
Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. “People with insomnia don’t miss work more
than others. They’re there, but they’re not fully engaged with what
they’re doing,” she says. (Confession: As the creators of the 101 Hottest Women of 2011 photo gallery, we rarely have this problem.)
More from MensHealth.com: Snooze Like a Baby
So, what’s a guy to do the day after he’s tossed and turned?
Try
these tips for perking up in the office from Craig Schwimmer, MD,
M.P.H., F.A.C.S., medical director of The Snoring Center in Dallas.
More from MensHealth.com: Sleep Better for More Energy
Salute the sun: Making sure you’re exposed to
sunlight in the morning will reinforce your natural biological rhythms,
Schwimmer says. After all, you’re supposed to be awake now, even if you didn’t get enough rest last night.
Get your blood flowing: Do a light workout before
your commute. And we mean light—think 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking,
not a 10-mile run. It’s stimulating enough to increase sympathetic
activity, the part of your nervous system that controls your internal
organs, says Schwimmer. “This elevates alertness and preparedness for
action.”
Resist sugar: That Snickers bar might fire you up
for a few minutes. But when your body produces extra insulin in
response, you’ll feel a rebound crash, the effects of which are
amplified if you’re low on sleep. Instead, eat small meals rich in
protein and complex carbohydrates, like these 5 perfect snacks.
Power nap: Take a 15-minute snooze during your lunch
break. “If you are sleep-deprived, getting some sleep—even small
amounts—typically improves psychomotor performance, mental functioning,
and job performance,” Schwimmer says.
If you have trouble sleeping for more than a few weeks or if insomnia
is making your life difficult, it’s time to talk to your M.D., Arand
says. Your doc might recommend medication, counseling, or even
alternative treatments like acupuncture.
More from MensHealth.com: The Best Place for a Nap
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