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Examining effects of insufficient sleep on work performance—researcher presents how sleep habits can be managed

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Persistent fatigue caused by insufficient sleep is a common and growing problem among working-age people, but sleep deprivation is rarely discussed in the workplace. According to Jenni Tuomilehto's doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, workplaces should not only encourage open discussions about sleep but also develop shared strategies to prevent the challenges that chronic fatigue may bring.

Although well-being at work is a frequently discussed topic, the impact of insufficient sleep on employees' performance is often overlooked. According to Jenni Tuomilehto, who will defend her dissertation at the University of Vaasa on 8 April, affects all workplaces. However, discussing it with colleagues can even feel like a taboo—making it a topic many do not have the courage to bring up in the .

In her in , Tuomilehto examines the effects of insufficient sleep on work performance and presents practical methods for identifying and managing the impacts of sleep deprivation in the workplace.

"Employees across various sectors encounter multidimensional performance issues stemming from a lack of sleep—the phenomenon is extremely common. Fatigue has negative effects on, for instance, productivity, decision-making ability, concentration, and emotion regulation. At the same time, the risks of illness, burnout, and accidents increase," Tuomilehto explains.

According to Tuomilehto, those suffering from insufficient sleep should enhance their coping, for example, by scheduling tasks based on their level of difficulty and slowing down their work pace.

"It is essential that employees have the support of the work community in dealing with the challenges brought on by a lack of sleep. Since insufficient sleep affects well-being and work performance at such a large scale, it should be possible to talk about it openly with colleagues and supervisors. This way, strategies for coping with fatigue can be developed together—for instance, by adjusting working hours, adding breaks, and changing work tasks. Good sleep should be a mutual value for the whole work community."

Practical tools for coping with a lack of sleep in the workplace

In her dissertation, Tuomilehto presents a theoretical model that helps identify fatigue caused by insufficient sleep. The model also provides supervisors, HR professionals, and others practical tools for maintaining by preventing chronic fatigue and exhaustion.

"It is important that sleep is more effectively acknowledged as part of managing workplace well-being. Although individuals have means to manage their fatigue through personal resources, employer's support and jointly developed coping strategies are crucial," Tuomilehto emphasizes.

The data for Tuomilehto's doctoral research consisted of individual interviews with 24 people, focusing on their personal experiences of how fatigue affects their work. All interviewees were employed in different sectors in Finland.

More information: Doctoral dissertation:

Provided by University of Vaasa

Citation: Examining effects of insufficient sleep on work performance—researcher presents how sleep habits can be managed (2025, April 2) retrieved 13 August 2025 from /news/2025-04-effects-insufficient-habits.html
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