Bob’s first job was his dream job. Straight out of college, he was accepted by his dream advertising agency as a junior account manager.
With just two months into the job, he wanted to do no wrong. In his mind, he could not afford to make any mistakes because it would cost him his job. What he does is wake up as early as six in the morning to check his email as he gobbles breakfast. So when it’s already time to work at 8 am, Bob is already deep into mulling over layout presentations for a client. He doesn’t free up his lunch breaks and entertains client calls. Even though log-out time at 5 in the afternoon is already nearing, Bob would still pester the Creatives team to finish outputs the clients don’t need yet. He just couldn’t stay put when he’s not ahead of the client, even if it’s at the expense of his teammates who already want to go home after a long day at work. Bob thinks the client is always superior and their needs always come first. He answers “emergency” client calls after 5 pm and delves into work even during the weekends. There’s no better way to put it other than Bob’s life is work and more work.
Of course, this kind of work performance warranted a lot of opportunity costs. Because Bob works nonstop, he never has the energy left to be present with family and friends. He would always be on his phone answering client calls, even initiating some. Then, he would get grumpy if someone taps his shoulder and says the food is ready.
To complete every single task ahead of time, Bob has never gotten more than five hours of sleep a day. And even with all his sacrifices for work, he never qualified for a raise or a promotion. With all work and no incentives, Bob eventually got burnt out.
Oftentimes, people like him shrug off the importance of rest. They regard rest as a sign of weakness, without realizing the major role it plays to make work sustainable in the long run.
If you’re looking for a motivator to drop that pen or close that laptop, then below are reasons as to why you should rest.
1. The body goes to repair mode through rest
You exert energy by using different body parts to function throughout the day. By the time it’s nightfall, your body naturally needs to return to a state of homeostasis to go through the process of repairing, recharging, and recovering. This is achieved through sleep.
2. Stress and Anxiety are reduced through rest.
When you’re stressed, the sympathetic nervous system is activated. Your senses go on full alert, your heart beats faster and the blood pressure rises. To reduce stress levels, a person must get rest for the parasympathetic nervous system to be activated. According to Healthline, this is when the body stimulates digestion, activates metabolism, and helps the body relax.
3. Rest Sharpens Focus and Improves Productivity
When your brain is tired, it becomes less efficient. It becomes more difficult for you to think quickly and sharply because the brain wants and needs to rest. To stay focused and be productive, you must have a good night’s rest.
4. Rest Increases Creativity
You overuse your resources when you’re burnt out. This affects the creative functions of your brain which makes you less inspired and unmotivated to work. You need to recharge for that pinch of inspiration which usually means you must allot enough hours for sleep.
How to Get a Better Quality of Sleep
Aside from getting seven to nine hours of sleep a day (or whatever is necessary for your age), the quality of sleep is also important. If you wake up in the middle of the night or still feel restless after sleeping the right amount of hours, then the quality of your sleep is poor. We listed down some tips for you to achieve a night of better quality sleep.
1. Set a sleep schedule and commit to it at the exact time throughout an entire week.
2. Do not drink coffee at night or the few hours leading to it.
3. Skip the nap during the day.
4. As much as possible, do not exercise anymore if it’s already late in the evening or two hours before you sleep.
5. Do not use any electronics thirty minutes to one hour before sleeping.
6. Dedicate a few minutes for meditation before dozing off.
7. Dim the lights or turn them off to help the body produce the right amount of melatonin.
Designing Your Workspace for an Efficient Work Performance
To get the right amount of sleep, working efficiently is the key. The working environment plays a crucial factor to stimulate energy and motivation.
Standing desks have gained attention in recent years because it helps improve an employee’s workflow by maintaining productivity throughout the day. FlexiSpot has a wide range of standing desks that have spacious desktops, are height adjustable and whisper-quiet, and are versatile and eco-friendly. A standing desk helps heighten a person’s senses and keeps him or her alert while working.
Standing desk converters may also be added to instantly upgrade one’s workstation. It improves the person’s posture without taking additional desk space. FlexiSpot even has units like the M7B-28” that have an additional keyboard tray for more space to move on while working.
An ergonomic anti-fatigue mat will make sure you won’t get tired standing up for long hours. Get one that has massage points and mounds to detect body movement and stimulate a constant foot massage. The right mat will aid in healthy blood circulation, mental and feet relaxation.
Ergonomic office chairs also help in lessening body pain that may cause inefficiency at work. FlexiSpot has a Massage Gaming Chair that can be used for the workspace as well. It is made of soft luxury breathable bonded leather, has a thick padded seat, and a steady chair base. It has a rocking angle at 10° and an adjustable reclining angle from 90°~170°. It also comes with an adjustable lumbar support and headrest pillow for comfortable seating.
A fitness chair such as the V9 Pro Home Office Height Adjustable Cycle Desk Bike of Flexispot can keep a person awake and active while working. It boosts energy as well by allowing the person to pedal at a comfortable or challenging resistance level while finishing tasks throughout the day.
Final Thoughts
Rest is often regarded as the enemy of productivity but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. In reality, rest aids a person to become even more productive and efficient at whatever he or she is doing. Insufficient rest may lead to poor work performance and may cause detrimental health effects. While productivity is glorified, rest shouldn’t be neglected at any cost.