Work. Many workers worldwide get their zzzs in offices and factories and avoid commuting to work more hours. Is the trend of working from home substituted by the sleep-at-work trend?
However, spending more time in the workplace only sometimes means increased productivity. For some, changing their bed and sleeping routines could harm their health.
If you’re thinking of making your workplace your sleeping space, you should know whether the sleep-at-work idea is a method to increase productivity or a threat to your overall health.
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The rise of sleep Pods at work and sleeping in the Office
Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters reportedly transformed some rooms into sleeping areas following a viral photo that showed employees asleep on the floor to keep a deadline in sight went viral on the internet.
This tech company isn’t alone in introducing a company to provide sleeping areas for hardworking employees. Mercedes-Benz, Google, Nike, along with Zappos have all been among the firms that have added nap rooms in their workplaces.
Technology workers from China can be seen blurring boundaries between home and work for a long time, sleeping in office bunk beds and camping cots beside their desks to avoid the commute and working more hours to compete in a highly competitive sector.
While the sleep-at-work phenomenon is believed to be the norm for the tech industry, it’s accepted by workers at factories in China who had to keep their production lines running, especially when COVID lockdowns strike.
United States works in the most desirable areas to reside. A lot of the most sleepy workers across America. For them, the influx of new residents moving into their region means more commutes, earlier rising times, and fierce competition for jobs.
Pros and Cons of sleeping at work
Are there any benefits of sleeping in at work? From using a nap Pod to boost energy during the day, or being able to sleep (and live) entirely outside of work, sleeping at work can bring benefits and potential risks.
Pros
Lowering home Utility Bills
In the year Alistair Vigier began his own business, He crunched the numbers and decided to sleep in his Office could let him free up a substantial amount of cash for the start-up and then invest the money he’d pay for rent back to his business. Vigier estimated investment of the rent equivalent, which is $2,500 per month, in ads for his business could result in an additional $60,000 in revenues for his business.
Even if you don’t plan to work full-time in your workplace, such as Vigier having a bed in the Office on a few evenings per week can help reduce the energy you use at home. Spending less time at home will mean you’ll use less electricity and water.
The longer hours you work could result in savings on entertainment subscription services like Netflix and Hulu in addition. Why would you want to watch the latest shows while working longer hours?
Eliminating Commute Times
Tech is famous for jobs that pay well and are located in more expensive locations. Many workers prefer living farther away from their jobs to reduce costs. But, long commutes have been associated with lower job satisfaction. One study showed that people prefer to clean their toilets instead of commuting to work.
Employees who opt to stay in bed in their offices often point to getting a break from the commute as a significant factor in their decision.
In the major cities of Chicago and New York, workers spend at least four days per year commuting to work. Sleeping at work can save you more than 100 hours a year, in more productivity.
Increased Productivity and Performance at Work
How productive would you be if you worked four additional days in the Office than your coworkers? If you work in a competitive sector such as the tech industry, it could result in the most sought-after job or a promotion.
If you avoid the commute and use the time to catch up with your sleep, you could also perform better. Studies have proven that the loss of even one hour of rest can impact your ability to perform your job.
Cons
Refusing Work-Life Balance
Sleeping in the workplace could allow you to avoid the commute and reduce the cost of utilities, but it’s not doing much to balance work and life. Finding an equilibrium between work and family can be crucial to your well-being and health.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that working longer hours is associated with a higher risk of death due to heart disease and stroke.
Longer work hours have been linked with increased levels of depression and stress.
While it can provide you with a competitive edge in the workplace to work longer than your colleagues and burn off the midnight oil, ignoring the balance of your work and life can negatively impact your mental and physical well-being.
Limiting the Social Life Capacity
If the long hours in the Office are wearing you down, Spending time with your family members could be the solution. Most research indicates that social connections are essential for longevity and health.
When you settle into your Office and avoid social events to work longer days, you’re restricting your social circle and decreasing the opportunities to socialize and hang out with your acquaintances.
Frequent Inconveniences
When Alistair Vigier experimented with sleeping and working from his home office space, he discovered the rest of his night was regularly disturbed by calls from clients who came in at 4 am in the Office and coworkers who showed up early. If that wasn’t troublesome enough, Vigier also had to find out where the shower would take place daily.
He was able to spend an enormous amount of money for a membership to the nearby health club, where he could do the gym in just a few minutes and take a shower to be ready for work every day.
Even if the Office has sleeping cots, bunk beds or napping pods, it still needs to be guaranteed that you won’t be disturbed when sleeping or have the space to shower and clean your teeth.
Poor Sleep Hygiene
A good night’s sleep each night is vital to improving physical and mental performance and health. For many, this requires a particular focus on sleep hygiene and good habits that assist you in falling asleep and staying asleep.
Good sleep hygiene usually involves practices like regular time for bed, sleeping in a relaxed and dark space, avoiding blue light from screens on computers and phones at least two hours before going to bed, and avoiding working in your room.
Establishing proper sleep hygiene practices in the office environment is challenging, especially if you need help finding a place that is quiet and dark enough to allow you to sleep uninterrupted.
How to get a good night’s sleep at work
Although you may only want to stay up some nights, There will be instances when it’s inevitable. Like the tweeter who rolled in a bed with an inflatable sleeping bag and masked for a strict deadline, you could be wondering how to stay awake at least once during your professional career.
If you have to make an overnight getaway and catch some rest at work, keep the comfort and hygiene of your sleep in your mind. Find a sofa or a cot that allows you to rest comfortably. The most important thing is to wake up with a sore neck or back after sleeping on an inflatable beanbag. Find a quiet and dark place to rest, even if it involves wearing a sleep mask to block the harsh overhead fluorescent light. Beware of blue light coming from your laptop or smartphone before you go to bed. However, you might like to utilize your phone for some pink sounds or binaural beats that can aid in your drifting off to sleep.
If you’re searching for an area to rest for a few minutes in the middle of the day, many of the same guidelines apply. Adults require at least seven hours of sleep every evening. If you’re not getting enough of the recommended amount of sleep, a nap may help you catch up and prevent incidents or poor job performance resulting from a lack of sleep. The best method to take a nap to avoid grogginess is taking your nap short, lying on your back, and taking your rest around mid-afternoon.
Also, ensure that your boss is comfortable sleeping at work. Although some employers favor it, other companies might not be shocked by the thought of you lying on your desk, catching some zzzs while clients are in your view. It is more appropriate to escape for one quick nap in your car if the workplace culture isn’t yet ready to accept the concept of working from home.
Last Thoughts: Is sleeping in the Office a healthy habit?
While working from home could be an excellent method to reduce the commute and be ahead by working more hours than others, it’s not the best sleep schedule. Working from home can make it challenging to maintain good sleep hygiene practices that allow you to get a good night’s sleep. Additionally, the extended hours and restrictions to your social activities could be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Even if you have to stay in your workplace every time, the best way to get a restful night’s rest is to go home to relax and enjoy the night on your mattress.