Sleep Smarter, Work Better: How your benefits can help you get some rest
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
This might sound familiar: early mornings fuelled by coffee, foggy afternoons spent yawning and sleepless nights scrolling into the wee hours. We often talk about ‘catching up on sleep’ but the reality for most of us is that lack of sleep is catching up on us. With rates of burnout and mental health challenges being at an all time high, it’s now or never when it comes to taking care of ourselves.
Tired isn’t a badge of honour. Sleep is directly related to performance, mood and long-term health. The good news, you’re not alone. Your employee benefits may already include tools that can help you sleep better – you just might not know it.
But first…why is sleep so important
Sleep fuels performance. Consistent, stable sleep of at least 7 hours a night improves working memory and response inhibition - the ability to suppress, stop or delay inappropriate impulses.1 Insufficient sleep can result in significant emotional consequences, including deficits in emotion generation and regulation.2 Sleep also reduces burnout risk, increases patience and improves both decision-making and problem-solving. With stress, the interaction goes both ways. Work stress can interfere with sleep, but lack of sleep can also make the experience of stress much worse.3 Lack of sleep can also impact our physical health, with things like our immune function, our hormone regulation and long-term disease risk being heavily regulated by our circadian system, the internal biological clock that governs our sleep-wake cycle.4 That means lack of sleep can lead to more sick days, more doctor’s visits and more medical claims.
Sleep is important. Even without all the science, we all know it. It affects everything from your productivity to your patience. So it’s time we all started doing something about it - and luckily for many of us, employee benefits are here to help.
Your benefits as a sleep toolkit
We’ve all heard the advice: plan consistent sleep and wake times, reduce blue light exposure before bed, manage caffeine and alcohol, create a wind-down routine…the list of ‘helpful’ advice goes on and on. But what most people aren’t talking about is the plethora of tools and support in a benefits plan that are available to employees to help them address any sleep concerns they have.
Stress and anxiety are two of the biggest sleep disruptors. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can help by offering short-term counselling for stress and anxiety; support for racing thoughts, overwhelm, or life transitions; access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia; and referrals to specialists. Check your benefits portal to see if this is available to you - and even if sleep isn’t a problem yet, you can book a confidential session proactively.
Poor sleep is often a symptom of something deeper. The mental health coverage available in your employee benefits can help you address root causes. This might include therapy for anxiety, depression, burnout; support during major life stages (parenthood, caregiving, grief, etc.) or trauma-informed support. Review your psychology or counselling coverage and consider regular sessions, not just emergency support.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Sleep trackers and wearables can help you better understand your current sleep habits and the impact it’s having on your brain and body. Some benefits plans have Wellness Spending Accounts (WSA) that might reimburse for sleep trackers, smartwatches, or wellness apps that can give you insights into sleep cycles and habits. This information helps you form a plan to get things back on track. Check if your plan reimburses wearable tech or wellness tools that support sleep tracking.
Flexible working helps you protect your energy. Whether it’s flexible start/end times, hybrid or remote work, or reduced commute fatigue, flexible working can be a game changer for sleep. More control over your schedule can help you better align your day with your natural sleep rhythm. If you work from home and can nap during the day to compensate for a late night of being up with a sick child, why not? Explore flexible options available to you and discuss accommodations with your employer. Use them intentionally to build better routines.
It’s time we reframed rest as a performance strategy - not just at work, but in every area of our lives. Sleep - going to bed early, having a nap, sleeping in - isn’t laziness, it's optimization. Well-rested employees think clearer, collaborate better, and advance further. Using your benefits is part of investing in your career longevity.
Your benefits aren’t just there for when you’re sick. They’re there to help you thrive – and that starts with getting some rest. Start today by logging into your benefits portal and reviewing your EAP, mental health and wellness spending options. Then begin with one small sleep-enhancing change this week.
If you’d like to help speaking to your employer about the benefits that matter to you most, reach out to Shannon to talk.
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