Rest to Perform: How Great Leadership Promotes Rest, Mental Health & Better Sleep at Work

May is Better Sleep Month, and while sleep might not be the first thing that comes to mind when discussing work performance, it should be.

Rested employees are more engaged, more productive, and far more creative. Yet too often, team members push through stress, skip breaks, and work long hours in silence, thinking that busyness equals performance.

As leaders, it’s our job to change that mindset.

At Plaudify, we believe performance and well-being go hand in hand. The best results come from teams who feel supported, seen, and encouraged to take care of themselves.

Here are 5 practical ways leadership can encourage employees to rest, recharge, and ultimately, perform better:

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1. Encourage PTO and Lead by Example

When leaders never take time off, employees feel guilty doing it themselves. Use your own PTO and openly talk about the benefits of unplugging. Create a culture where time off is not only approved, it’s celebrated.

2. Normalize Mental Health Days

Mental health matters. Let your team know it’s okay to take a day when they’re overwhelmed or burned out. Add “mental health day” to your internal vocabulary and watch the stigma disappear.

3. Give Flexibility Where You Can

Sometimes, a 9-5 schedule doesn’t fit every situation. Let employees start late after a rough night or take a midday break for a walk, nap, or therapy session. That flexibility pays off in loyalty and energy.

4. Recognize Effort, Not Just Output

When employees feel appreciated, they’re less likely to overwork or burn out. Tools like Plaudify help managers recognize both small wins and big accomplishments in real time, keeping morale high and burnout low.

5. Use Data to Spot Burnout Early

Not all exhaustion is visible. With Plaudify, leaders can track engagement patterns, flag concerning dips in performance, and start supportive conversations before burnout sets in. Insight + empathy = real leadership.

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Why It Matters

Better Sleep Month is a reminder that rest is not a reward; it’s a requirement. When companies encourage downtime, they foster a culture of trust, health, and sustainable performance.

So this May, let’s normalize rest. Encourage sleep. Make space for breaks. And remember: a well-rested team is a high-performing team.