As moms, we’re all too familiar with feeling stressed out because April is National Stress Awareness Month, now is the time to get to the root of it. Stress can come from any event or thought that makes us feel frustrated, angry or nervous because stress is our body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. Outside of kids and the day-to-day runaround, stress can easily creep into our lives and affect us in ways we aren’t aware of, including poor sleep. 
A recent study published by ResMed found stress is negatively impacting the quality of sleep for half of Americans. A third said they’re having a hard time falling asleep, another third said they’re sleeping less over the last year and one quarter started taking naps more often.
If you’re a working mom, naps are out of the question and you’re probably cruising along on autopilot, forgetting to ask yourself, “Could lack of sleep or poor sleep be impacting my career?” The answer is, yes. In fact, a recent article in the Harvard Business Review found that lack of sleep can seriously inhibit workplace performance. The following red flags indicate bad sleep is impacting your career, even if you’re working from home:
- You feel less satisfied in your job and less productive: New or increased feelings of decreased workplace satisfaction or productivity can be the side effects of poor sleep patterns.
- You’re not as creative as usual: Sleep helps to replenish glucose, the molecule that fuels the brain, and clears out beta-amyloid, a protein which builds up in the brain and disrupts cognitive activity. Both of these functions help with creativity and a lack of them can mean feeling uninspired or unable to process new thoughts and ideas.
- You’re more forgetful: Lack of good sleep can also spell disaster for our memory. If you’re struggling to learn, to retain information or to be detail-oriented, poor sleep patterns could be the culprit.
- Your relationships at work feel weaker: Poor sleep can cause your workplace connections to suffer and can make effective leadership a more difficult challenge.
If you identify with any of the above red flags, it’s time to focus on getting better rest. First, try noting your sleep position. Are you a belly, side or back sleeper? Chances are your mattress or pillows aren’t accommodating your sleep style.
In addition to noting sleep positions, there are several things you can do on a daily basis that will allow you to slowly flip your sleepless routine into a good night’s rest. Make sure to get bright light as early as possible. Once you hear the alarm clock go off, try and expose yourself to artificial or natural light within the first one or two hours after waking up.
Also, stay off social media while lying in bed. Scrolling through your social feeds or, worse, trending news is more likely to cause anxiety than provide relaxation. Instead, get up from bed. Remove yourself from the bedroom, try reading a book on the couch and stay away from screens and bright lights.
Author: McKenzie Hyde is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with Amerisleep and a full-time writer focused on sleep health and the mattress industry. She currently writes articles on a variety of topics, ranging from sleep hygiene to the newest trends in the mattress and bedding industry.
