Who are the sleepiest workers in the office? Are they the
ones who stay up late watching a favorite sports team play? Or are they the
ones who we think work late into the night? Health Briefs reveals why some
workers get less sleep than others.
The answer to the above is neither. Workers who spend their
workday in a cubicle, with very little natural daylight get less sleep than
others, according to a study by the Journal of Clinical Sleep
Medicine. The study found that employees
exposed to natural light slept 46 minutes longer than those who were not
exposed. Poor sleep can produce short-term memory loss, slower psychomotor
reflexes, and diminished attention. Reduced sleep also affects mood, cognitive
performance and can increase the chance of developing illnesses. Lack of sleep
also affects work place errors and decreases productivity. Health Briefs TV
suggests workers in cubes take breaks outside throughout the day. Get outside when
home and enjoy the sun and daylight. Employers and office space designers should
take into consideration that exposure
to daylight is an environmental cue for the circadian clock, the body’s natural
rhythm over a 24-hour period. If an employee is deprived of natural light, it
disrupts behavioral patterns such as sleep and activity. And can make
them more moody.
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