Doctors talked about the impact of corporate messengers on the brain and sleep quality

Experts have warned about the dangers of work chats for the psyche and the quality of sleep. The constant waiting for notifications leads to brain exhaustion. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Mechanisms of neurobiological impact

The destruction of the psyche from work correspondence is an objective neurobiological reality. Clinical psychologist, CBT therapist Anastasia Helemelya explained that the brain does not see the difference between checking a message and a danger signal. When an employee is constantly waiting for a notification, the effect of hypervigilance occurs, in which dopamine is produced for the expectation itself, and muscles and attention are in constant tone.

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Each messenger signal provokes the release of cortisol, and with a large number of messages, a person lives with chronically elevated stress levels. This prevents the nervous system from switching to recovery mode, which is why rest becomes a background activity and does not bring strength. When switching between work and personal chats, there is a "trail" of residual attention, reducing work efficiency by 40%.

Impact on sleep quality

For the health of the nervous system, a clear end to the working day is crucial. Olga Ulankina, an expert at the Hemotest Laboratory, emphasized that even one message before bedtime activates the attention systems, forcing the brain to make plans and recall tasks. This makes it difficult to fall asleep and worsens the quality of a night's rest, even if a person sleeps a sufficient number of hours.

According to her, if a person notices that they are getting less sleep and doing work more slowly during the day, they should reconsider their digital habits: if possible, turn off work notifications in the evening, do not use work chats one or two hours before bedtime, and keep a clear line between work and personal time. This helps the nervous system to fully switch to rest and significantly improves well-being.

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Causes of burnout and risk groups

The habit of always being in touch is a key factor in professional burnout. Psychologist Helemelya emphasized that due to the inability to replenish the resource of self-control, a cynical attitude towards others arises and personal effectiveness decreases. The brain stops getting satisfaction from completed tasks, as the digital to-do list becomes endless.

Remote employees who have erased the physical boundaries between office and home, and managers who experience the illusion of control, are at risk. Anxious perfectionists who perceive the speed of response in a chat as an indicator of their competence are also vulnerable. Experts recommend disabling notifications two hours before bedtime and strictly observing the boundaries of personal time.