A Primer on Sleep

With a new year upon us, it abounds with new year resolutions! Many among us commit to eating better and being more active. But what about sleeping well?

Not getting enough sleep impacts multiple areas of our life: energy levels, mood, appetite, motivation, concentration and efficiency. When we are sleep deprived, we are more likely to feel stressed and emotional and our ability to perform efficiently at work and to interact positively with others can be affected. On average, we need approximately 6-9 hours of sleep. While consistently sleeping less than 6 hours per night can lead to a range of health consequences, on the other hand, consistently sleeping more than 9 hours can create excessive lethargy and fatigue. 

Sleep patterns may be impacted by a range of factors, including stress levels, low mood and depression, anxiety, physical health conditions, medications, and worry about sleep. The good news is that our bodies are very resilient and can recover from chronic sleep debt within a few days to a week. However, excessive worry is one of the largest contributors to poor sleep. Targeting worry and other mood issues can lead to significant sleep improvements. If there are underlying psychological health conditions that are impacting sleep or in case of sleep disorders, there are treatments available.

To learn more about these treatments as well as effective sleep habits to promote a restful sleep, please visit Workplace Strategies for Mental Health web site.

If you are a supervisor or manager and would like to organize a workshop, lunch-and-learn or training session on various wellness related topics, please contact our Specialized Organizational Services (SOS) at 1-888-366-8213. Please note that our SOS Services are provided on a cost-recovery basis.  If you would like to offer information sessions on the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) targeting employees or managers (also available via WebEx, video or teleconference), organize an EAP presentation as part of an all-staff meeting, or coordinate the set-up of a kiosk, please contact your Employee Assistance Services manager.

This message is brought to you by your EAP as a reminder to take care of your mental health.  You can contact us 24/7 at 1-800-268-7708 or 1-800-567-5803 for the hard of hearing and the deaf.