Imagine you didn’t sleep at all or were kept awake by bad dreams. Still, despite the exhaustion, you have to be at work during the day.
Dr. Vladislav Rivkin, an associate professor of organizational behavior at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, says lack of sleep harms your willpower and decision-making. He shared four tips for staying focused on your responsibilities after a sleepless night.
Strategically Approach Your To-Do List
When you’ve barely slept, sifting through dozens of emails can feel impossible. Dr. Rivkin recommends crossing off any items on your daily to-do list that require a lot of willpower.
On days like that, stick to simple tasks that don’t demand deep thought or intense focus.
If you can’t avoid harder work, tackle the most burdensome tasks first thing in the morning when you still have the most energy, the Daily Mail reported.
Reassess Your Energy Resources
Sleep loss can reduce your willpower for challenging tasks, whether that’s keeping a constant smile for customers or concentrating in a noisy open office.
Rivkin says people are less willing to put effort into those tasks after a sleepless night because they feel mentally and physically depleted.
A 2016 University of Zurich study found that people who view their energy and willpower as plentiful feel less drained after using them.
Rivkin says researchers don’t fully know the limits of willpower. But you can challenge your beliefs about how quickly willpower saps your mental energy.
If You Can’t Change Yourself, Change the Situation
The key to getting through a workday after a sleepless night may be avoiding situations that demand big displays of willpower. That includes minimizing distractions and simplifying assigned tasks.
Rivkin says reducing demands on your willpower can help you stay productive when you’re sleep-deprived.
Watch a Funny Video
Do you instantly feel better when you watch videos of quirky animals?
Rivkin says short funny clips throughout the day can boost engagement, organization, and creativity at work.
Rivkin’s 2004 research found that humorous video content improves employee effectiveness by lifting mood and easing mental strain.
So, when your mental energy dips during a workday after a sleepless night, turn on a short funny video on your computer. Just be careful not to get caught by your boss.
