World Sleep Day

In this new day and age, many people have aspirations to become their own boss. To decide their own schedule and work from anywhere. This population of entrepreneurs is made up of people who are either eager to travel or want more time to spend with family. Fortunately for this community, technology has made the dream possible. 

What’s more, interesting is that this has sparked a movement, with 70 percent of people around the globe teleworking at least once per week. This is mostly a result of expanding requests by employees, however, it has opened a door and enlightened employers. Companies are now finding that remote teams reduce overhead as a result of not having to pay for office space or supplies. Although there are benefits to this new lifestyle, there are also risks. 

As we move into an era of freelancing it’s important to look at how our “work-from-home” lives are affecting our sleep habits. This in-home career is actually, quite demanding, posing a threat to sleep. 

In one scenario, you might find the freedom to chose your hours of work too liberating. With no clock-in schedule, you’re likely to sleep in a tad longer and shut the computer off while there’s still daylight. Some might excuse their delay to deadlines as a reasonable sacrifice to fulfill non-work related duties. This tendency only adds tension in the time one has to complete work. 

In another case, the competitive freelance market could cause you to agree to impossible deadlines in order to keep clients content. A company is more likely to pay a freelancer who can get the job done in less time because it saves them money (that is if the freelancer works on an hourly rate). Nonetheless, a company never wants to sit on a project for too long. Losing a client due to inefficiency is a danger for freelancers who rely on regular clients.  

As a freelancer, you are on a constant job search because short-term projects have a high turnover. This is one reason so many traveling freelancers take work wherever they go. In fact, 81 percent of freelancers work while on vacation. Their phones close by on a nightstand, laptops persistently searching for Wi-Fi, and gears continuously turning in the brain while tucked in bed. The combination of all-nighters to complete projects and perpetual brainstorming results in robbed sleep. 

With this deprived sleep comes mediocre work. So, of course, you grind longer hours to make up for your lack of efficiency, but then you only bankrupt your sleep. Still, the drive to make this lifestyle work will ignite this question: how can you prevent this vicious cycle? Stop wishing for change and start initiating it. 

Follow these rest habits:

1. Use blue light filters or apps on desktops and phones to reduce exposure and protect your circadian rhythm.
2. Work in designated sitting areas to keep a productive mindset.
3. Give yourself stretch breaks between projects.

Falling asleep on the couch while you work is actually harmful, as sofas are not made to lay on for long periods of time. They do not offer the proper support for your back. In fact, a couch cushion can place too much pressure on your spine, thus potentially causing damage to neck muscles. In the corporate workforce, damaged nerves in the neck and shoulders is a physical risk. Even sitting for long hours over the course of many years is debilitating. 

Avoid sleep deprivation by designating a sleep space away from your workspace, such as these beds:

Mantua Modern White Leatherette Bed

Winn Contemporary Style Espresso Finish Leatherette Platform Bed Frame Set

Valero Contemporary Tufted Fabric Wingback Bed