8 ways to stop dreaming about work every night
Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
Believe it or not, dreaming about work every night can impact your short and long-term career in more ways than you can imagine.
A good night's sleep is critical for mental and physical wellbeing and can support productivity, attention to detail, motivation and workplace happiness.
Work-life balance is easier said than done these days with smartphones and 24/7 connectivity, and with work from home arrangements creating a new overlap between professional and personal lives, it can be difficult to disconnect.
Related: 7 tips for better health and wellbeing at work
Work-related dreams are open to interpretation
Although there is no definitive answer as to whether work-related dreams actually do stem from what’s happening in your office, it may be beneficial to look at the underlying story of the dream and see whether you can apply it to other areas of your life.
For example, a fear of being unprepared may represent a lack of confidence or nerves about a major event coming up in your life. A dream about running late could symbolise a missed opportunity (work-related or otherwise). Turning up naked to work could pertain to a fear of being judged, shamed or exposed in an environment or to people familiar to you. Likewise, a dream of being fired may be symbolic of a relationship or scenario that you may be asked or forced to exit.
Related: 5 tips to avoid work related stress once and for all
How to stop dreaming about work
While it's a widespread issue that affects most at some point in their lives, there are thankfully steps you can take to head back into sleep credit.
Here are eight that could help you get a better night's sleep.
1. Create a bedtime ritual
There’s no need to involve candles (unless that’s what you’re into), but it is helpful to have consistency. It could be as simple having a warm shower or writing a to-do list for the next day to clear your mind.
If you’re super keen to get into relaxation mode, rub lavender oil on your pillow to help take you away to the land of slumber. The point is to train your brain to recognise the signs that it’s time to wind down in order to gain a better night's sleep.
2. De-clutter your sleep space
Your bedroom should not be like a tourist destination – remove children, pets, phones, computers, food, lights and noisy or bright clocks, and limit excess bed linen to avoid overheating.
And try not to engage in stimulating activities, like TV or computer games, an hour before bed. Same goes for work – shut off that domain early in the night.
3. Reduce caffeine intake
Caffeine stimulates the production of stress hormones and inhibits absorption of a hormone that gives us a sense of calmness.
So avoid coffee or drinks such as black tea or energy drinks after 2 pm if you're looking for a better night's sleep. Instead, drink teas such as chamomile or valerian.
4. Up your magnesium intake
Magnesium is considered the anti-stress nutrient as it calms and supports the nervous system.
You’ll find it in tofu, legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains (oats, barley, quinoa), wheat bran and green leafy vegetables.
5. Reduce alcohol
A few wines may help you fall sleep at the beginning of the night, but having alcohol in your system will interrupt your most restful, deepest REM sleep cycle.
It's also thought that people who consume alcohol regularly have lower levels of natural melatonin in their body, which can contribute to sleeping difficulties.
6. Exercise regularly
Engaging in exercise during the day can make it easier to fall asleep at night – and stay asleep. It can also increase the amount of time you spend in the deepest stage of sleep. As well as being good for your physical health and general wellbeing, exercise is a great way to let off some steam.
Whether it’s an after-work gym session, a group class or a run around your local park, it’s bound to help reduce your work stress and increase your energy levels. Some people however find exercising too late in the day too stimulating, so stick to exercising before dinner.
7. Switch off
Never underestimate the value of some time away from your computer screen during your workday. Take a walk, don’t eat your lunch at your desk, go outside for some fresh air and, if you are guilty of this, try not to take work home with you every night.
At home, give yourself an after-hours cut-off time, after which you don’t check or respond to work-related emails, phone calls or texts. This should help you disconnect and put some boundaries in place between your work and home life.
8. Take some time out
Make some time for yourself during the day that doesn’t focus on work overload or anything else.
Whether it’s a 10-minute meditation to start or end your day, getting off the bus a few stops earlier and walking home, taking the dog for a walk or having a long bath after dinner, take a moment to breathe, reflect on the day, process anything of importance and then enjoy some time with yourself, your partner, family, friends or housemates.
And even better, take time to plan a holiday for a real break from work.
Related: 5 simple ways to enjoy the holiday break and not worry about work
Still dreaming about work every night?
If all else fails, don’t let frustration get the better of you. Stick to the “20-minute rule” – after 20 minutes of tossing and turning, get up and do something relaxing in another room until you feel sleepy again. A better night's sleep is worth pursuing the technique that suits you.
Practicing some of these suggestions should help you leave work at the office and not take it with you into your dreams.
