Negative thoughts about verbal abuse or being judged can disrupt sleep.
A bad day can leave nasty, negative thoughts whirling through your mind, and these can interfere with sleep.
However, a little fun and relaxing activity after work — like a walk, yoga or listening to music — can help you get a better night’s sleep.
That is the result of a survey of 699 employees of the US Forest Service.
They reported how much rude behaviour they had encountered at work and their subsequent negative thoughts.
They were also asked about symptoms of insomnia.
The more rude behaviour they encountered at work, the worse they slept at night.
However, those able to detach themselves and recover from work in the evening slept better.
Dr Caitlin Demsky, the study’s first author, said:
“Incivility in the workplace takes a toll on sleep quality.
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.”
Negative thoughts about work have also been linked to high blood pressure, fatigue and cardiovascular problems.
Dr Demsky said:
“Sleep quality is crucial because sleep plays a major role in how employees perform and behave at work.
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.”
Related
The study was published in the Journal of Occupational Health
Psychology (Demsky et al., 2018).
