When Better Sleep Starts at the Office, Everybody Wins: 11 Items to Help
Easy additions for a healthier office.
Did you know that people who sleep well tend to achieve 30% more of their goals1 and are twice as likely to reach career success? On average poor sleepers lose 7.2 hours of productivity a week2.
At Walmart Business, we want to set your organization up for success. That’s why we’ve partnered with licensed clinical psychologist, sleep science coach and corporate consultant Dr. Kimberly A. Lemke, who speaks on why “sleep is a daytime issue.” She suggests that stimulating our senses during the day fills us with essential sleep-inducing chemicals that help us fall asleep and stay asleep.
We will share with you some items you can purchase for your office to stimulate the senses and keep employees alert and engaged while keeping their stress levels low.
1. Light-therapy lamps
Whether you have a clinical diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder or simply enjoy the warming feeling of sunlight as you work, light therapy lamps can make a big difference. Light plays the most critical role in our sleep/ wake cycles.
Make sure you choose lamps that offer adjustable brightness so they can better simulate natural light in your office environment. Also, Dr. Lemke encourages you to have as much natural light in your meeting spaces as possible.
2. Blue-light blocking glasses
Many factors influence your natural circadian rhythms, including the quality of light around you. According to an experiment conducted by Harvard researchers3, exposure to blue light can shift circadian rhythms by twice as much, making it difficult to get a solid night’s sleep.
Blue-light blocking glasses are especially helpful for shift workers who leave the office during daylight hours and need to sleep soon after they get home.
3. Treadmill desks and desk bikes
It’s much easier to sleep after a day of physical activity than after one that was largely sedentary. Treadmill desks and desk bikes are both pieces of office furniture that help employees stay active and engaged.
On top of the health benefits of exercise, remaining active also promotes a general feeling of well-being and stimulates the senses4 for more effective work.
4. Stimulating essential oils & diffusers
Our sense of smell strongly affects our underlying mood5 and ability to focus on the task at hand.
Placing stimulating essential oils in diffusers around the office can help your employees feel invigorated and alert. Try starting with a peppermint, grapefruit, lemon and rosemary rotation and see what your staff likes best.
5. Noise-canceling headphones
With multiple people working in one space, it’s inevitable that some may need to lock in and focus or relax for a moment.
Noise-canceling headphones are an ideal tool to help employees block out distracting noises and de-stress. They can also provide productivity-boosting auditory stimulation through music.
6. Herbal teas
Starting your day off with a cup of coffee is a common workplace practice for a reason: this early infusion of caffeine can lead to better focus and feelings of invigoration.
Make sure to also give employees a selection of non-caffeinated beverages they can enjoy in the afternoon and evening without disrupting their sleep cycle. Most herbal teas lack caffeine while still providing a comforting brewing ritual.
7. Mints, gum and cinnamon sticks
Want a midday boost without caffeine? There’s more than one way to stimulate your taste buds.
Strongly flavored items such as mints instantly activate your sense of taste and smell, and they also help to encourage wakefulness. Dr. Lemke encourages her corporate clients to keep bowls of these little treats around the office so employees can take a quick sensory refresh whenever needed. Add a cinnamon stick to your herbal tea for a kick that both smells and tastes delicious.
8. Reusable water bottles
Hydrating throughout the day is a great way to focus on your health. It also eliminates the need to play “hydration catch-up” in the evening, which can lead to repeated bathroom trips that interrupt sleep.
Consider giving your employees reusable water bottles and encouraging them to take multiple quick breaks to refill and refresh as they work. Keeping the water ice cold can also help with an extra sensory boost.
9. Large computer monitors
Eyestrain is a common affliction6 for office workers who spend long hours staring at computer monitors.
Regular vision breaks are one of the best ways to combat this issue. Another is to ensure that computer monitors are large enough that employees do not need to squint or hunch to see what they’re working on clearly.
10. Indoor plants
Indoor plants aren’t just a great piece of office decor. They’ve also been shown to help lower blood pressure and bolster achievements7 while modestly improving air quality8.
Make sure you find plants that your workers aren’t allergic to, are non-toxic for any children and pets who may visit the workplace and are low maintenance. Succulents are a great choice.
11. Energizing snacks
If employees spend about eight hours a day in the office, it’s only natural for them to get a little hungry between meals. Keeping energizing snacks on hand will help them make nutritious choices that will improve their output instead of stifling it.
Think whole grains, fruits, proteins and—yes—even a bit of chocolate. These promote wakefulness, rather than starchy and carb-heavy snacks that can make you feel more like taking a nap than tackling your to-do list.
Stock up your office
Ensuring your employees have what they need to fill their senses during the day so they can feel good at work and rest well at home isn’t just being a good human. It’s also being a shrewd business leader. But you or your office manager don’t have to lose any sleep to keep these handy items at the ready.
Sign up for Walmart Business+ today and you’ll get free delivery on orders of $35 or more from your local store* for easy access to groceries and other essentials, as well as free shipping online**. You’ll even earn 2% back in rewards on orders of $250 or more.***
Get started now and see how Walmart Business+ can help you run a healthier business.
*Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.
**Excludes Marketplace & oversized items, location & freight surcharges
***Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.
1 Sleep and Goals: Analyzing the Connection Between Slumber and Achievement, HealthySleep
2 Sleep and Productivity Statistics 2024, Gitnux
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