With more sleep to success

One in ten workers today suffers from severe insomnia. Not only does lack of sleep impair productivity, the magnitude of the negative effects is very high

Lack of sleep, more sleep more success
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March 2019

Since 2010, sleep disorders are at professionals between 35 and 65 years increased by two thirds. This is shown by the DAK health report "Germany sleeps badly - an underestimated problem". According to the representative study, 80% of employees currently feel affected. One in ten even suffers from a particularly severe sleep disorder. The reasons for this are stress, excessive pressure to perform and constant availability. But also the so-called "screen time" after work, ie excessive screen usage TV, tablet and smartphone don't let the brain rest. In the case of severe insomnia, there are often psychological causes behind it. This includes bullying Burnout and depression.

In today's meritocracy, lack of sleep is increasingly accepted as a modern curse. Too much sleep is seen as a waste of time and a state of unproductivity. Sleep is essential, especially to be more productive and efficient during the day. It is not for nothing that professional athletes go to bed early as part of the training program.

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Good sleep - essential for productivity, motor skills and emotional stability

dr medical Emmanuel H during, neurologist and sleep specialist, knows that the seven-hour rule is well founded. A large number of published studies indicate that chronic sleep deprivation shortens life expectancy and increases health risks. Such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A well-known study by Gregory Belenky shows how lack of sleep is directly related to motor reaction times. The result can be blackouts and microsleep, which are known to pose a real danger, especially on the road. Lack of sleep also affects our emotional intelligence. Here, too, reaction times and receptiveness are important. Those who suffer from lack of sleep often perceive negative facial expressions such as fear, sadness and anger more than positive emotions. In addition, one is easily irritable and impatient. This can permanently affect mental stability.

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The hero among the sleep phases: the REM phase

Anyone who sleeps through adequately long rapid eye movement phases (REM phases) perceives frightening and emotionally challenging situations less stressful. Because during the REM phase, the activity in the amygdala, the fear center of the brain, decreases. The REM phase is the time of vivid dreams, but at the same time also of absolute muscle relaxation. At best, only those muscles are active that are needed for breathing and eye movements. Therefore, REM sleep is not only important for emotional health, it also promotes creativity and the ability to deal with problems. An experiment to solve complex anagrams under different conditions showed that subjects who were awakened in the REM phase to solve the problem performed best. REM sleep also promotes the ability to acquire new motor skills, such as playing instruments.

An interesting interaction: Not only are we much more creative and productive when we have had a good night's sleep. Conversely, people sleep better and more deeply after a successful and exhausted day.

Deep sleep, on the other hand, is of great importance in order to store memories and what has been learned in the long term and to process experiences. Therefore, deep sleep is extremely important for mental health and mental strength.

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Anything but sleepy

So anyone who equates sleep with laziness is wrong. Today's society may propagate that getting by with little sleep and spending more time at work is part of a success story, but the opposite is true. Sleep makes us stress-resistant, creative and productive. If you want to live sustainably and age healthily, sleep should be a top priority.

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