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Sleep deprivation obviously impacts the nonprofit sector and our valuable leaders more than we may realize. After a cup of caffeinated tea and with a newfound interest in sleep health, I dug deeper into the detrimental effects of sleep loss.
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37% of adults say they are so tired during the day that sleepiness interferes with daily activities (Source: National Sleep Foundation 'Sleep in America' Polls).
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Though many people assume that boredom causes sleepiness (e.g., long, dry workplace meetings), boredom merely unmasks sleepiness. Sleepiness is caused by sleep deprivation. (Source: National Sleep Foundation Sleep IQ Quiz)
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The human body never fully adjusts to night shift work. Due to circadian rhythms--a human's built-in 24-hour biological clock--people are most likely to feel sleepy between midnight and 6:00 am.
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A person cannot force himself or herself to stay awake--if you are sleepy enough, you can fall asleep anywhere. It's even possible to experience 'microsleeps' and fall asleep for a few seconds without even realizing it. (Source: National Sleep Foundation Sleep IQ Quiz. Imagine what could happen if a sleepy employee experienced a microsleep while driving on behalf of your nonprofit? Additionally, almost 20% of all serious car crash injuries in the general population are associated with driver sleepiness (Source: Institute of Medicine, Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem).
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Help Your Team Members Get Their Safety Sleep
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To reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents and poor decisions caused by sleep-deprived staff, consider the following steps:
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Stop rewarding employees who work 12 or 14 hour days. Instead, provide support to enable team members to work more efficiently within healthy workday schedules.
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Stop ignoring the ill effects of sleep deprivation. Speak to any employee who comes to work appearing sleep deprived. Let the employee know that you care about his or her health and well being, and that adequate sleep is key to high performance.
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During high-stress projects or periods when your employees must work overtime, reiterate that employee health comes first. Reduce the stigma that napping or going home to rest indicates laziness. Allow your employees to head home before they burn out. If possible, ask your employees to set their own overtime schedules, enabling them to work extra hours when they are most comfortable doing so.
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Encourage your employees to take the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep IQ Quiz and to visit Sleep.org, a new publication from the National Sleep Foundation that offers sleep health tips.
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Be considerate and respect employee privacy when addressing your concerns about sleep deprivation. Show your employees that you care, but be careful not to ask about underlying medical issues or other protected information.
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If you really want to be progressive, institute a 20-minute afternoon nap (or mental resting time) throughout your office. For team members who can't nap comfortably in the office, suggest a brief walk outdoors or a short reading break. The National Sleep Foundation states that a brief nap of 20-30 minutes can help improve mood, alertness, and performance. The Foundation also states that many distinguished people have been fans of napping, including Winston Churchill, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and Albert Einstein.
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It's absolutely amazing that something as simple as sleep can have a tangible effect on your nonprofit's mission. Interestingly, Tamara Lytle's article states that organizational leaders may have greater ability to influence their employees' sleep habits than other health habits such as nutrition and exercise routines. Make a worthwhile investment in your mission and your team--make sure everyone catches some Zzzzz's tonight!
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