How to fight the money stress ruins sleep and tanks productivity

A tough economy, rising grocery bills, high gas prices, credit card bills, fears of layoffs: A 2025 survey of 2,000 adults from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that 78% of adults lose sleep to financial stress. That double whammy of financial stress and bad sleep can lead to a slew of health problems—as well as declining performance at work, which in turn could lead to actual (or even worse) money problems. Insufficient or disrupted sleep affects every major physiological system, not just daytime energy levels, says Jennifer L. Martin, professor at Florida International University in Miami who specializes in sleep science. “Individuals facing money-related concerns often experience heightened cognitive arousal at night, persistent worry, and stress, which interfere with the ability to fall and stay asleep,” Martin says, noting that this can lead to emotional instability and negative effects on both immune function and work performance. “This creates a cycle where financial strain worsens sleep—and poor sleep further limits financial stability,” she says. The stress becomes a cycle: As supported by research outlined in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, sleep loss reduces the capacity for complex decision-making and long-term planning, harming work performance and limiting career growth. The money-stress spiral “Clinically, insufficient sleep reduces sustained attention and increases the likelihood of errors, particularly in tasks requiring prolonged focus, which contributes to decreased concentration,” Martin says. (The bloodshot eyes, yawning, and dark circles aren’t the most professional look either.) That’s why some companies are seeing this dual problem as an opportunity. Sleep Cycle, an AI sleep technology company, and global fintech firm Revolut are attempting to address the issue of money problems keeping folks awake at night. Sleep Cycle’s sleep tracking app uses your phone’s microphone to monitor sleep patterns, wakes you at