According to a study published on January 7th, 2025, by the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, people with sedentary jobs, an estimated 80% of the workforce, have a much higher risk of experiencing insomnia compared with people who are active at work. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. A sedentary job is any job that requires an employee to sit for about six hours of an eight-hour workday.
Researchers surveyed nearly 1,300 people twice over a span of ten years, inquiring about their job schedules and physical activity levels while at work. They also asked about the participants’ sleep habits, identifying three sleep health categories: good sleepers, insomnia-like sleepers, and catch-up sleepers.
Good sleepers are people who exhibit optimal sleep patterns, such as regular sleep cycles with low levels of daytime tiredness.
Insomnia-like sleepers are people who experience short sleep cycles and higher levels of daytime fatigue.
Catch-up sleepers fall between both groups and often rely on naps or extra weekend sleep to compensate for irregular sleeping patterns.
Compared to active work, sedentary work was 37% likely to lead to a variety of insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling asleep, interrupted sleep, and frequent daytime tiredness. The findings of the study also indicated that workers who fall into a pattern of poor sleep due to their job design (defined as elements such as the amount of technology used at work, levels of physical activity, and work schedules, and specifically the time of day when the employee works) can end up stuck in such unhealthy patterns for many years. Insomnia-like sleepers, for example, reported their symptoms persisted ten years later, at the end of the study.
Those experiencing insomnia may have the following symptoms:
- Having a hard time falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
- Feeling tired or sleepy during the day
- Feeling cranky, depressed, or anxious
- Having a hard time paying attention, focusing on tasks, or remembering
- Making more errors or having more accidents
- Having ongoing worries about sleep
If you are experiencing insomnia, there are several ways you can improve your sleep, including:
- Taking short breaks throughout the day to move
- Unplugging smartphones and computers two hours before bedtime
- Using light exposure to readjust your circadian rhythms if you work a night shift
If you are experiencing symptoms of insomnia, you can learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. To schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.