People who unwind after work before heading home have a better chance of getting a good night's sleep compared to those who go straight home, new research has claimed.
A study of 699 employees with the U.S. Forest Service found that doing something fun or relaxing - such as taking a walk or listening to music - after a long day at the office helps improve sleeping patterns.
The study was conducted by researchers at Oakland University who found that going straight home to relax may give workers more time to rest, but they may not be able to sleep well if they do not take mental breaks that will help them recover from work.
As part of the study, the participants had to rate the level of rude behavior they experienced at work and were asked how much they were able to relax after work.
The workers were also asked whether they experienced symptoms of insomnia and the number of hours they worked each week, the number of children under 18 living at home, and the frequency with which they consumed alcoholic drinks.
The research, led by Caitlin Demsky, of Oakland University, was published by the American Psychological Association in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
"Sleep quality is crucial because sleep plays a major role in how employees perform and behave at work," Demsky said, as reported by Science Daily.
"In our fast-paced, competitive professional world, it is more important than ever that workers are in the best condition to succeed, and getting a good night's sleep is key to that," she added.
Workers who experience rude behavior, such as being verbally abused, can suffer symptoms of insomnia, including waking up multiple times at night.
"Incivility in the workplace takes a toll on sleep quality," Demsky noted, according to Science Daily.
"It does so in part by making people repeatedly think about their negative work experiences. Those who can take mental breaks from this fare better and do not lose as much sleep as those who are less capable of letting go," she continued.
The authors warned that negative thoughts about work have been linked to health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, fatigue and high blood pressure.
Demsky suggested that managers can help their employees recover from work exhaustion by taking proactive steps such as refraining from sending work-related messages after business hours.
She also recommended workplace programs aimed at reducing workplace incivility, such as a program launched by the Veterans Health Administration called "Civility, Respect, Engagement in the Workforce."
The program is aimed at promoting positive and respectful communication between co-workers and changing the work culture to highlight the benefits of civility at the workplace.
