{"id":1058,"date":"2026-05-26T11:35:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2026-05-26T11:35:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:35:13","slug":"the-shocking-link-between-your-boss-and-your-bedtime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/2026\/05\/26\/the-shocking-link-between-your-boss-and-your-bedtime\/","title":{"rendered":"The\u00a0Shocking\u00a0Link\u00a0Between\u00a0Your\u00a0Boss and\u00a0Your\u00a0Bedtime\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever gone to bed exhausted \u2014 only to find your mind still replying to emails,\u202fattending\u202fmeetings, or planning tomorrow\u2019s to-do list?\u202fWhat if the real reason why you struggle to sleep\u202fisn\u2019t\u202fyour evening routine, your screen time, or your pillow but the way your workday follows you home?\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if employers\u202fweren\u2019t\u202fpart of the problem but part of the solution?\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellbeing starts long before we enter the workplace, and sleep is one of the strongest predictors of clarity, emotional balance, safety, and sustainable work ability. We all know how one bad night can turn a workday into survival mode. Yet many of us try to push through with caffeine or willpower. But what if the\u202freal answer\u202fisn\u2019t another personal fix,\u202fbut workplaces that support recovery from the start?\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When employers treat rest and sleep as essential \u2014 honoring biological rhythms, protecting recovery time, and building a culture that values sleep \u2014 organizations\u202fdon\u2019t\u202fjust improve wellbeing.\u202fBy valuing rest and sleep employers unlock smarter, healthier, and more efficient workers.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When work is trying to be your \u201cbed buddy\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep happens during free time, so it is often treated as something employees should manage alone. But work strongly shapes how\u202fpossible recovery\u202freally is. This is why sleep belongs not only in private life, but also in workplace well-being discussions. (Paajanen\u202f2024.)\u202fSleep problems affect millions worldwide, and the reasons are not always \u201cbad habits\u201d (Noura et al. 2024).\u202fOften the\u202freal challenge\u202fis that the body leaves the office, but the mind does not.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A longitudinal study showed that work-related stress harms sleep quality through rumination \u2014 constant worrying and overthinking during free time (Noura et al. 2024). On the positive side, being able to mentally detach from work improves mood and reduces exhaustion.\u202fSimply put: the less your brain works the night shift, the better you sleep. (Peng et al.\u202f2023.) \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor sleep\u202fdoesn\u2019t\u202fjust make employees tired. It affects job satisfaction, emotions, and workplace relationships. Research shows that insomnia is linked to negative emotions, reduced attentiveness, and conflicts with colleagues or leaders.\u202fGood sleep, in contrast, supports engagement and overall satisfaction. (Peng et al.\u202f2023.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep is also tied to occupational self-efficacy,\u202fthe belief that you can handle work challenges. Higher self-efficacy supports coping and may buffer the negative effects of poor sleep. In other words: sleep support\u202fisn\u2019t\u202fonly about darkness and silence.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202falso about confidence, competence, and leadership that strengthens belief in one\u2019s abilities. (Peng et al.\u202f2023.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cNo amount of workouts, yoga, or green smoothies will help. The real problem is losing control of work.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eira\u202fRoos,\u202foccupational health physician (Valkama 2026) <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What\u00b4s really broken \u2013 you or the system? <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When work changed, our sleep changed with it. These days, many work schedules simply don\u2019t line up with how our bodies are built to function. Night shifts, for example, mess with our circadian rhythm and increase the risk for several health problems (Di Milia & Bjorvatn, 2024). So, when people struggle to sleep, it\u2019s often not a personal failure at all. It\u2019s the structure around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research keeps pointing out the same thing: not getting enough sleep chips away at our ability to work well. This hits \u201cevening types\u201d the hardest \u2014 the people who naturally feel more alert later in the day. They are more prone to exhaustion and burnout, especially in midlife between ages 45 and 54 (Fox et al., 2025; Merikanto & Partonen, 2024).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If sleep loss becomes chronic, the cost is not only personal.\u202fIt\u202fbecomes\u202forganizational.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf we assume that everyone is efficient and alert right from the early morning, that simply isn\u2019t true. A large share of people are evening types, and many more are at their best in the afternoon. Allowing more flexibility in working hours helps.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mona Moisala, Doctor of Psychology and expert in brain wellbeing (Valkama 2025) <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Already exhausted and the workday hasn\u2019t even started (Pxhere 2017)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sleep isn\u2019t only pretty… it\u2019s superpower!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep supports alertness, energy, emotional regulation, and memory. During sleep, the brain restores itself, processes emotions,\u202fconsolidates\u202fmemory, and activates its \u201ccleaning system\u201d. (Paajanen\u202f2024.)\u202fYou are not \u201cswitching off.\u201d You are undergoing\u202fnightly\u202fmaintenance.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good sleep increases motivation and productivity (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health n.d.). Sleep hygiene refers to routines that support sleep: regular habits, a calming environment, and reducing disturbing factors (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health 2016).\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is lie down and let the world hold you (Niemi 2015, CC BY-SA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Let them sleep or pay the price<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workplace sleep programs actually work. When workplaces offer sleep education, stress\u2011management tools or relaxation practices, people sleep better: less insomnia, better quality, and even reduced anxiety and bullying (Rodr\u00edguez\u2011Mu\u00f1oz et al. 2025). The same goes for safer work environments and supervisors who support healthy sleep; both are linked to better sleep outcomes (Brossoit et al. 2023).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research consistently shows that sleep depends on more than bedtime routines. Workload, schedules, leadership, flexibility, and a recovery-friendly culture all shape how well employees truly rest (Peng et al. 2023; Brossoit et al. 2023).\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teemu Paajanen, a senior psychologist at Finnish Institute of Occupational Health,\u202fhighlights practical actions such as reasonable workloads, encouraging breaks, flexible hours, assessing work hour strain, allowing shift influence, having open conversations about sleep, and referring employees to occupational health when needed (Paajanen 2024).\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s the striking part: in a U.S. study, employees slept better when they got more control over their schedules and when managers were trained in family\u2011supportive leadership (Olson et al. 2015). The result? About eight extra minutes of sleep per night and fewer sleep problems. Eight minutes sounds tiny. But across months and whole organizations, it becomes a real, measurable shift in wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEven if you train for a marathon or a triathlon, it won\u2019t boost your organization\u2019s work ability. Work gets done together.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Eira\u202fRoos,\u202foccupational health physician (Valkama 2026) <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Rested workers thrive!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep is not only an individual’s responsibility, but workplaces can also strengthen it through structure and leadership.\u202fWell-rested employees feel more energetic, dedicated, and enthusiastic at work (Schleupner\u202f& K\u00fchnel 2021). Maybe the\u202freal question\u202fisn\u2019t\u202fwhether employers can influence sleep. Maybe the\u202fquestion is: if we already know they can \u2014 why aren\u2019t we designing work with sleep in mind?\u202f  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s\u202fabout looking after employees\u2019 health and wellbeing.\u202fGood sleep helps the brain work better and\u202fmakes work smoother\u202fand more productive.\u202fIf I were an employer,\u202fI\u2019d\u202fthink about how to support my employees\u2019 sleep and alertness, no matter the industry or working hours.\u201d<\/em>\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teemu Paajanen, a senior psychologist at Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Paajanen 2024)\u202f <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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So, the shocking link between your boss and your bedtime is simple: when sleep works, work works.\u202fPerhaps the\u202fnext competitive advantage\u202fisn\u2019t\u202flonger hours, but better\u202fnights.\u202fBecause when workplaces back good sleep, magic happens. The fun kind \ud83d\ude09  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Writers<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgren Eveliina, Niemi Vera, Svahn Miira, Savolainen Anniina, Viljam\u00e4ki Sini, Students of Welfare and Health Coordinator Master\u2019s Degree Programme at Savonia University of Applied Sciences <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pehkonen Pirjo, Peteri Juha and Savela Sanna. Lecturers at Savonia University of Applied Sciences <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sources <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft\u202fCopilot 2026. An AI based writing and translation assistant. Used for checking language quality, clarifying structure, and generating headline ideas, March 2026.\u202fhttps:\/\/copilot.microsoft.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already exhausted and the workday hasn\u2019t even started. 2017. Picture. Pxhere. https:\/\/pxhere.com\/fi\/photos?q=sleeping&search=. Accessed 12.1.2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brossoit, R., Hammer, L.,\u202fCrain, T., Leslie, J.,\u202fBodner, T. &\u202fBrockwood, K. 2023.\u202fThe Effects of a Total Worker Health\u00ae Intervention on Workplace Safety: Mediating Effects of Sleep and Supervisor Support for Sleep.\u202fOccup\u202fHealth\u202fPsychol. 28(4):263\u2013276. https:\/\/stacks.cdc.gov\/view\/cdc\/133844<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f21.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Di Milia, L. & Bjorvatn, B. 2024.\u202fThe relationship between shift work, sleep, and work hours on wellbeing.\u202fIndustrial Health. (63) 148\u2013155.\u202fhttps:\/\/www.jstage.jst.go.jp\/article\/indhealth\/63\/2\/63_2024-0088\/_pdf\/-char\/en<\/a>. Accessed\u202f9.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health n.d. Uni ja palautuminen.\u202fTy\u00f6hyvinvointi\u202fja ty\u00f6kyky.\u202fInternet publication. https:\/\/www.ttl.fi\/teemat\/tyohyvinvointi-ja-tyokyky\/elintavat\/uni-ja-palautuminen<\/a>. Accessed 16.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health 2016.\u202fUnen huolto. Vireytt\u00e4 vuoroty\u00f6h\u00f6n. Learning materials. Internet publication. https:\/\/www.ttl.fi\/oppimateriaalit\/vireytta-vuorotyohon\/unen-huolto<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f19.1.2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fox, J., McGrail, M., Jin Cha, Y., Cho, D.,\u202fWeimeng\u202fLu, R., Yi, R. & Martin, P. 2025. A\u202fMixed-methods\u202fSystematic Review of Sleep Duration and Quality in Healthcare Workers: Impacts on Patient Safety and Quality of Care.\u202fBehavioral\u202fSleep\u202fMedicine. Vol 23 (5), 698\u2013714.  https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1080\/15402002.2025.2522682<\/a>. Accessed 9.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merikanto, I. &\u202fPartonen, T. 2024.\u202fEveningness\u202fincreases risks for depressive and anxiety symptoms and hospital treatments mediated by insufficient sleep in a population-based study of 18,039 adults.\u202fDepression and\u202fAnxiety, 38, 1066\u20131077.\u202fhttps:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/da.23189<\/a>. Accessed 11.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niemi, V. 2015. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is lie down and let the world hold you. Picture. 14.9.2015. Location: Pelkosenniemi. Collections of Vera Niemi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noura, M.,\u202fMauczok, C.,\u202fEder, J.,\u202fWekenborg, M. K.,\u202fPenz, M.,\u202fWalther, A.,\u202fKirschbaum, C.,\u202fSpecht, M. B. &\u202fRothe, N. 2024.\u202fWork-related stress and sleep quality. The mediating role of rumination: a longitudinal analysis.\u202fSomnologie. Volume\u202f30,\u202fpages 32\u201342.\u202fhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11818-024-00481-4<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f9.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olson, R., Crain, T. L., Bodner, T. E., King, R., Hammer, L. B., Klein, L. C., Erickson, L., Moen, P., Berkman, L. F. & Buxton, O. M. 2015.\u202fA workplace\u202fintervention improves sleep: Results from the randomized controlled Work, Family, and Health Study.\u202fSleep\u202fHealth 1, 55\u201365.\u202fhttps:\/\/stacks.cdc.gov\/view\/cdc\/203024<\/a>.\u202fAccessed 9.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paajanen, T. 2024.\u202fTue ty\u00f6ntekij\u00f6iden unta ja vireytt\u00e4 \u2013 10 vinkki\u00e4 ty\u00f6nantajalle. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. News article 16.4.2024.\u202fhttps:\/\/www.ttl.fi\/ajankohtaista\/uutinen\/tue-tyontekijoiden-unta-ja-vireytta-10-vinkkia-tyonantajalle<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f16.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peng, J., Zhang, J., Wang, B., He, Y., Lin, Q., Fang, P. & Wu, S. 2023. The relationship between sleep quality and occupational well-being in employees: The mediating role of occupational self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, Vol 14.\u202fhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1071232<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f9.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodr\u00edguez-Mu\u00f1oz, A., Antino, M., D\u00edaz-Guerra, A. & Sep\u00falveda Paez, G. 2025. The Impact of a Workplace Sleep Program on Employee Well-being: A Pre-post Design Intervention Study. Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology 41(2), 85\u201392. https:\/\/journals.copmadrid.org\/jwop\/art\/jwop2025a9<\/a>.\u202fAccessed\u202f21.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schleupner, R. & K\u00fchnel, J. 2021. Fueling Work Engagement: The Role of Sleep, Health, and Overtime. Frontiers in Public Health 9.\u202fhttps:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/public-health\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2021.592850\/full<\/a>.\u202fAccessed 21.1.2026.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valkama, H. 2025. Nykyp\u00e4iv\u00e4n ty\u00f6el\u00e4m\u00e4 on uuvuttavaa ja tehotonta, sanoo tutkija \u2013 ty\u00f6ss\u00e4 keskityt\u00e4\u00e4n huonosti ja v\u00e4\u00e4riin asioihin. YLE. Internet publication. https:\/\/yle.fi\/a\/74-20134227<\/a>. Accessed 3.3.2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valkama, H. 2026. Ty\u00f6terveys\u00adl\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4ri: Ty\u00f6hyvinvointi\u00adp\u00e4iv\u00e4t, liikuntaedut ja ty\u00f6suhdepy\u00f6r\u00e4t pit\u00e4isi r\u00e4j\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 ja keskitty\u00e4 olennaiseen. YLE. Internet publication. https:\/\/yle.fi\/a\/74-20208542<\/a>. Accessed 4.3.2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever gone to bed exhausted \u2014 only to find your mind still replying to emails,\u202fattending\u202fmeetings, or planning tomorrow\u2019s to-do list?\u202fWhat if the real reason why you struggle to sleep\u202fisn\u2019t\u202fyour evening routine, your screen time, or your pillow but the way your workday follows<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13527,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[24,77,193,194,21],"class_list":["post-1058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yleinen","tag-leadership","tag-savoniaamk","tag-sleep","tag-workplace-well-being","tag-yamk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13527"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1104,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions\/1104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogi.savonia.fi\/hyvinvoinninlahteilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}