Make sleep a priority this Ramadan

Sleep deprivation during Ramadan is far more serious than many managers think, says Ashridge Executive Education.

A survey by the business school of 1,000 executives, from junior managers to C-suite leaders, found that three-quarters of younger workers aged 20 to 34 felt lethargic all the time.

They also reported feeling more stressed, having less energy to socialise with friends and family, and being less able to see things from others’ points of view.

Older employees were more likely to report physical symptoms of sleep loss, such as back pain, impaired vision and increased appetite.

Vicki Culpin, a professor of organisational behaviour at Ashridge, says: “A lack of quality sleep is far more serious than many managers and HR professionals appear to believe. Organisations have a duty of care towards all employees.”

But while Ramadan can exacerbate the problem, Ms Culpin says it is an increasing characteristic of today’s working environment.

“A 24/7 ‘always on’, globally networked and technologically connected business culture and the pressure to be seen ‘performing’ appears to be contributing to a sleep-deprived workforce,” she says. “There is a need to challenge a corporate culture of sleeplessness.”

Irshaad Ebrahim, a consultant neuropsychiatrist and medical director at the London Sleep Centre in Dubai, says sleep loss and poor-quality sleep are equally harmful and both exact a toll, which can lead to “an increase in errors at the workplace, along with decreased productivity”.

The cost is impairments to both decision-making and innovative thinking, he says, and at worst, accidents costing lives and resources.

“Especially during Ramadan, when it’s a given that many will be sleep-deprived, employers should help staff by informing them about the importance of getting sufficient sleep even when fasting,” he says.

For managers with employees fasting during Ramadan, Ms Culpin says just having a conversation with team members will raise awareness of the issues surrounding a lack of sleep.

q&a sleep right and be healthy

Suzanne Locke reveals the toll of not having enough shut-eye during the holy month:

What are the biggest risks?

More than 85 sleep disorders are recognised by the American Sleep Disorders Association, from snoring to sleep apnoea. Up to a third of Americans have symptoms of insomnia. These disorders are associated to numerous illnesses, including hypertension, obesity, depression, attention deficit disorder, heart disease and stroke.

What jobs are most at risk?

Individuals working in safety-critical jobs, such as public transport, hospitals, construction sites and assembly lines involving heavy machinery, should be monitored closely, says Irshaad Ebrahim, a consultant neuropsychiatrist and medical director at the London Sleep Centre in Dubai.

How much do people need?

The US National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to eight hours for those 65 or older, and between seven and nine hours for people in the 18 to 64 age group. But according to a 2013 “bedroom poll” by the National Sleep Foundation, respondents needed an average of seven hours and 13 minutes of sleep to function at their best. They slept six hours and 31 minutes on an average weekday, and seven hours and 22 minutes on weekends – 69 per cent got less sleep on weekdays than needed.

Any quirks?

One in five sleep with a pet, according to the same poll. A third of adults sleep with one pillow, 41 per cent use two – and 14 per cent prop themselves up with four or more.

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