SAN ANTONIO -- Most of us don't get enough sleep at night and researchers say that can lead to poor performance at work, including costing businesses billions of dollars every year.
Harvard Medical School estimated sleep deprived American workers cost employers $63 billion in productivity every year. In response, some companies are taking a unique approach to tackle the problem.
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has created a special nap room for employees. One healthcare company even offered a six week course for employees with insomnia.
But if your company doesn't offer sleep enhancement programs, what do you do? Experts say follow these three steps:
- Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning, even on the weekends
- Avoid alcohol 3 hours before bed and caffeine in the afternoon
- Turn off all electronic devices, including TV's, iPads, and computers one hour before bedtime
Experts say the last rule is one of the most important, because those gadgets put out daytime spectrum lighting that can block the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you go to sleep.
