Practice Being Kind. You'll Work Better. And Sleep Better, Too

We all know how important it is to get sleep (and how much of it we don't.)  But now a new study says that, if we took more breaks after work, we'd, well, sleep better, and more.

 Like most of you out there, I'm sure, work doesn't end when you come home from the office.  Then it's homework and dinner and baths and catching up on the day with your spouse and yada, yada, yada. It's enough to make you want to go to sleep.  Now.

 But, according to newswise.com, the more breaks you take after work, the better you will sleep. Now this is pretty dumb to point out but repetitive thoughts on rude behavior at work can cause insomnia.

 I know.  I've had them.

 Are you ready for the next news flash?  

 If you’ve had a bad day at work thanks to rude colleagues, doing something fun and relaxing after you punch out could net you a better night’s sleep, these soothsayers say.
“Sleep quality is crucial because sleep plays a major role in how employees perform and behave at work,” says lead author Caitlin Demsky, PhD, of Oakland University. “In our fast-paced, competitive professional world, it is more important than ever that workers are in the best condition to succeed, and getting a good night’s sleep is key to that.”
Demsky and her co-authors surveyed 699 employees of the U.S. Forest Service. Participants were asked to rate the level of rude behavior they experienced in the workplace, how often they had negative thoughts about work, whether they have insomnia symptoms and how much they were able to detach from work and relax. Researchers also asked about the number of children under 18 living at home, hours worked per week, and frequency of alcoholic drinks as these have previously been linked with sleep issues.
Experiencing rude or negative behavior at work, such as being judged or verbally abused, was linked with more symptoms of insomnia, including waking up multiple times during the night. But people who were able to detach and do something relaxing to recover after work -- such as yoga, listening to music or going for a walk – slept better.  
“Incivility in the workplace takes a toll on sleep quality,” said Demsky. “It does so in part by making people repeatedly think about their negative work experiences. Those who can take mental breaks from this fare better and do not lose as much sleep as those who are less capable of letting go.”
Repeated negative thoughts about work may also be linked to several health problems, including cardiovascular diseases, increased blood pressure and fatigue, according to the authors.
Granted, living in today's world, a lack of civility and good will towards man is severely lacking.  So how do you solve this problem?  I've always found that, if you're kind (even, and maybe especially, to those who aren't kind to you), what happens may surprise both of you.









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