The Link Between Insomnia and Work Performance September 10, 2026 The Link Between Insomnia and Work Performance Ever arrived at work after a restless night and felt like you’re running on half your usual brainpower? You might reread the same email, lose your train of thought in a meeting or take twice as long to finish a task that would normally feel easy. When insomnia becomes an ongoing problem, these difficult days can start to add up. Sleep is essential for restoring both the body and brain. Without enough quality sleep, the effects can follow you straight into the workplace, influencing everything from concentration and decision-making to reaction time and productivity. When you’re at work, but not at your best One way insomnia can affect work is through ‘presenteeism’. This means showing up for work but not functioning at your usual capacity. Research suggests workers with insomnia are more likely to experience presenteeism than those without sleep problems.1 This makes sense when you consider how much we rely on our brains throughout the working day. Poor sleep can make it harder to maintain attention, process information and stay focused on tasks, particularly when they’re repetitive or mentally demanding.1, 2 You may also be more likely to make mistakes or take longer to react.2 For someone working at a desk, that could mean overlooking an important detail. In safety-critical jobs, such as healthcare, driving or operating machinery, slower reactions and lapses in attention can have more serious consequences. The productivity cost can add up The impact isn’t limited to the occasional unproductive morning. An Australian study of young workers found that those with clinically significant sleep disorders experienced 40% greater workplace productivity loss than those without a sleep disorder.3 Much of the overall productivity burden identified in the study was attributable to insomnia. Poor sleep can affect attendance too. Insomnia has been associated with both presenteeism and absenteeism, meaning it can influence how effectively you work when you’re there as well as how much work you miss.2 There’s also the risk of falling into a frustrating cycle. You might sacrifice sleep to catch up on work, only to find yourself less productive the following day, leaving you with even more to get through. Better sleep can support a better working day If poor sleep is affecting your work, protecting time for rest is a good place to start. Try keeping consistent sleep and wake times, creating a relaxing bedtime routine and giving yourself time to switch off from work before bed. Setting boundaries around after-hours emails and other work tasks may also help. If you regularly struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake feeling unrefreshed, particularly if it’s affecting your concentration, performance or safety at work, speak with your doctor. Insomnia is more than simply having a bad night’s sleep, and getting the right support could make a meaningful difference to both your nights and your working days. References 1. Reynolds, Amy C., et al. “Insomnia and Workplace Productivity Loss among Young Working Adults: A Prospective Observational Study of Clinical Sleep Disorders in a Community Cohort.” Medical Journal of Australia, vol. Online first, July 2023, https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/219/3/insomnia-and-workplace-productivity-loss-among-young-working-adults-prospective. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026. 2) Newsom, Rob, and Heather Wright. “Sleep & Job Performance: Can Sleep Deprivation Hurt Your Work?” Sleep Foundation, Sleep Foundation, 19 Apr. 2022, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/good-sleep-and-job-performance. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026. 3. Reynolds, Amy, et al. “Insomnia and Workplace Productivity Loss among Young Working Adults: A Prospective Observational Study of Clinical Sleep Disorders in a Community Cohort.” The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 219, no. 3, Wiley, June 2023, pp. 107–12, https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52014. This article is intended for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have ongoing sleep concerns, speak to your doctor.
