This Study Shows How Working From Home Has Improved Sleeping Habits
If you began working from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re likely aware by now of the many ways in which switching to remote work changes your daily routine.
Aside, perhaps, for more time to focus on home tasks, cooking, and spending quality time with your loved ones, the WFH lifestyle has had a vast improvement on American workers’ sleep habits, according to a new study commissioned by Mattress Firm and conducted by international research company OnePoll. The study shows that remote work has further highlighted the importance of catching quality Z’s on the regular — further evidence that a solid work-life balance is crucial to overall health and well-being.
Among the 2,000 employed Americans who participated in the poll, 64 percent of respondents shared that working remotely has had a positive impact on their job performances, with 57 percent revealing that having the option to nap during the day has contributed to that. In fact, a whopping 80 percent admit to having enjoyed nap time while working from home, and thanks to a better work-life balance, 74 percent said they have seen an improvement in their quality of sleep.
It probably won’t come as much of a surprise, though, that people still aren’t getting enough sleep — even without having to commute — and it’s affecting people in multiple ways. Two out of three respondents shared that they get less than the expert-recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and 69 percent believe their work dictates their quality of sleep, which then has a ripple effect on their mood and ability to focus during the day.
“Many of us skip out on sleep during the work week, causing us to feel more anxious in the hours leading up to bedtime on Sunday night, which makes it the worst day for sleep,” said Dr. Chris Winter M.D., neurologist and sleep health expert at Sleep.com. “It’s important to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, which means going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.”
It all compounds the evidence that sleep hygiene has to be an active practice in order to be effective, which means that prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule, limiting the use of smart devices before or in bed, and ensuring you have comfortable temperatures, bedding, sleepwear, and more all play a role in helping you get the rest your body needs to not just function but thrive.
So if you have the privilege of working from home, try to get on that heathy routine so you can wake up feeling renewed and continue to reap the benefits of a better work-life balance (whether or not that includes afternoon naps). It might not last forever!