Manager Tips: Support and Encourage Healthy Sleep

Rest and restoration are critical to our physical and mental health. In addition to enhancing memory, reducing stress and anxiety and strengthening the immune system, high quality sleep reduces fatigue, helping employees perform better at work and practice one of AECOM’s core values, safety, in their personal and professional lives.

Here are 5 actions you can take as a manager to support and encourage healthy sleep habits within your team.

1. Know the warning signs of fatigue.
   Fatigued workers can put themselves and other workers at risk. Review these 7 signs of fatigue and how it affects the workplace. If you notice fatigue within your team, share this whitepaper with your team members to help them understand the risks and find ways to improve their sleep habits.
2. Learn the effects of sleep deprivation.
   Lack of sleep can have far-reaching effects on your team’s health and safety. Download and share this infographic with your team to enhance their understanding of the many negative effects of not getting enough sleep.
3. Encourage and share healthy sleep habits.
   Take a few minutes in your next team meeting to ask your team members to share any tips they’ve discovered for improving their sleep. Or share these healthy sleep tips and ask if anyone has others to add to the list.
4. Understand how work shifts can impact sleep schedules.
   Working a night shift or traveling often between time zones can disrupt the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, making employees less alert during waking hours or unable to sleep when they need it most. The internal clock is somewhat flexible and can eventually adapt, but some people are more affected by schedule changes overall and may have a harder time regulating their circadian rhythm. People who work night or rotating shifts or travel often between time zones should be diligent about creating a sleep routine and practicing healthy sleep habits.
5. Promote good emotional and mental health.
   There is a close link between sleep and mental health. Those who don’t get quality sleep often experience higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Additionally, higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress often lead to poor quality sleep, creating a vicious cycle for employees who may be suffering from insomnia or another sleep disorder. One way to help improve sleep quality is by taking care of one’s mental and emotional health, and there are many great tools available to managers and employees through GuidanceResources. Review the EAP Toolkit for Managers for an overview of the resources available.