Musculoskeletal disorders, heart disease, cancer, mental illness—what ties these all together? Besides being among the leading reasons for basic health and disability claims in the world, they’re all profoundly impacted by sleep.

Sleep—that underrated and often neglected lifestyle factor—has a massive effect on one’s overall health and wellbeing. Everything from weight regulation and stress management to nutrition, physical fitness, cognitive and immune function is affected by it—influencing not only the risk of disease, but the body’s ability to recover from it.

Even among “otherwise healthy adults,” the consequences of poor sleep are vast. Research links insufficient or disrupted sleep to a:

• 10-17x higher risk of depression and anxiety
• 3x greater risk of type 2 diabetes and pregnancy complications
• 50% increased risk of obesity and heart disease
• 36% increased risk of colon cancer and chronic pain

As insurers everywhere contend with a surge in claims driven by a rising global burden of disease, helping policyholders manage and protect their wellbeing further upstream—through practices like good sleep hygiene—offers an invaluable opportunity to contain costs and deliver real results right as portfolios come under increased scrutiny.

Research confirms that by ameliorating poor sleep, individuals can protect themselves from disease and even mitigate the effects of pre-existing conditions—touting cognitive behavioral-based solutions as the gold-standard, first-line treatment for most chronic sleep disorders.

With access to wellness coaching available through Workplace Options (WPO), policyholders can experience firsthand the benefits of such support and the transformative impact it can have on their overall quality of life and wellbeing.

How it Works

Through an expansive global network of ICF-accredited coaches, WPO is able to deliver fast and responsive wellbeing support ‘anytime, anywhere’—connecting each individual to a dedicated coach who works with them to develop a personalized wellness plan tailored to their specific needs and goals.

In the case of sleep, a coach will identify the particular challenge a policyholder is facing—whether that’s insomnia, sleep apnea, or a disruption to their circadian rhythm—and help them create an actionable list of goals they can pursue to overcome that challenge and improve their wellbeing.

Such goals may include:

• Cutting back on caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants—especially later in the day
• Minimizing screen time before bed, ideally one hour beforehand
• Creating a calm, sleep-friendly environment (i.e., maintaining a cool, dark, and quiet space used only for sleep and relaxation)
• Keeping a consistent sleep schedule; going to bed and waking up at the same time every day—even on weekends
• Being mindful not to rely on naps or medication that can perpetuate sleep problems

As research shows, sleep disorders can be tenacious, but nevertheless remain highly treatable. It’s just a matter of putting in the consistent effort required to establish a healthy sleep routine. To that end, ongoing coaching sessions also provide the structure and accountability individuals need to nurture the habits that will lead to long-term improvements—whether that involves helping them get out of bed at the same time each day, tracking their progress, and brainstorming strategies for stronger adherence, or helping them gradually increase daily movement in manageable 10-minute increments until they reach the 150 minutes of weekly activity recommended for better sleep.

Such habits—as with all lifestyle improvements—are not an overnight fix; but with the right support and persistence, can be made in time to see meaningful progress.

Luis’ Story*

Difficulty sleeping was a challenge Luis knew all too intimately—the effects of which were starting to extend far beyond the evening. During the day, he was plagued by a rapid, often irregular heart rate that was making it hard for him to do basic tasks like climbing the stairs to his office, running errands after work, or even getting dressed in the morning. What really gave him pause, however, was when he started experiencing daily migraines and trouble breathing after even minimal exertion. He decided that enough was enough and reached out to his wellbeing program for support.

The intake specialist listened closely to Luis’ concerns and connected him with a wellness coach that could offer the right support. The coach determined that the source of his health challenges was his lack of sleep and asked probing questions to accurately assess the nature of his disorder and its underlying causes. It became clear that Luis was consistently exceeding the maximum recommended daily intake of caffeine (400mg), as insomnia-induced fatigue had left him reliant on stimulants to perform at work and function during the latter part of his day.

Their conversation also unearthed a worrisome amount of stress; not only was Luis troubled by his lack of sleep and consequent symptoms, but he was also gripped by performance and financial anxiety, as recent layoffs left him fearful for his professional and economic future. These concerns especially bothered him at night, when he would often watch the local news, absorbing story after story of people losing everything they had to a freak accident, a robbery, or circumstances uncomfortably close to his own.

While the exact catalyst for his sleeping disorder could not be conclusively known, the coach decided that she had enough information to help Luis improve his sleep. She identified three preliminary, actionable goals for him to work on over the course of their sessions together:

• Switching from coffee to tea after 10am to reduce his caffeine intake—and abstaining from both after 2pm
• Refraining from watching television or consuming any electronic media in the two hours before bedtime—opting instead for a light-hearted book or magazine to calm his mind and induce tiredness
• Getting out of bed and moving to the couch whenever he found himself too anxious or alert to fall asleep, preserving his bed as a conduit for sleep rather than rumination

In addition to helping Luis work toward these goals, the coach also referred him for short-term counseling to help him manage and perhaps overcome some of his anxiety. She educated him about the bidirectional relationship between stress and sleep, and emphasized that by addressing his mental wellbeing, he could aim to improve his sleep. To help him get started, the coach offered several stress-management strategies Luis could incorporate into his day to minimize anxious thoughts, such as:

• Using the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique (identifying five things he sees, four things he can touch, three things he can hear, and so on) to bring him back to the present moment and reconnect him with his body
• Practicing Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) to release physical tension and quiet his stress response
• Engaging in brief mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises throughout the day to interrupt racing thoughts and maintain a sense of calm

By the final session, Luis observed substantial improvements in his sleep routine and overall wellbeing. He credited switching from coffee to tea with lowering his heart rate and restoring his mental clarity at work. He also attributed reading and getting out of bed when anxious to his improved ability to fall asleep more quickly once he’d lay down and close his eyes.

While he still had much farther to go in building a stable sleep routine and getting a handle on his anxiety, the progress he had already made was life-changing, and he expressed endless gratitude for his coach’s support and boundless expertise.

Inspire Stories like Luis’ with WPO’s Support

In a world that tends to burn the candle at both ends, support for better sleep can be the difference between rising claims and declining satisfaction—or fewer claims with stronger retention.

As a litany of global stressors increasingly undermine policyholders’ mental, physical, and financial wellbeing, a preventive approach will continue to prove the way forward for insurers. By supporting clients’ health upstream, insurers can avoid the downstream costs that accompany a sicker, less resilient society.

It all starts with strategic partnerships with third-party providers like WPO who can deliver the comprehensive wellbeing support clients need at scale. From wellness coaching for sleep and stress management to in-the-moment counseling for depression and anxiety, WPO offers the full spectrum of support policyholders need to maintain their wellbeing.

Grow your portfolio today with support that works when it matters most. Connect with us to learn more about our extensive scope of services.

*Disclaimer: Details of this story have been changed to ensure anonymity.