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Smoke, drink and eat as much as you like – but make sure you get seven hours’ sleep to be at your best in the office.

Lack of sleep is to blame for low productivity at work, a study has found, the Daily Mail reports.

But researchers also discovered that the amount workers smoke, eat and drink alcohol does not affect productivity.

Those who slept for six hours or less a night were notably less productive than those who got seven or eight hours’ sleep, according to the study of more than 21,000 UK employees carried out by researchers from Cambridge University and Rand Europe.

Employees with financial concerns, mental health issues or musculoskeletal problems also had lower productivity, as well as those who did not exercise.

Those who felt bullied or were under unrealistic time pressures were also less productive, as were those with unpaid caring roles, the Financial Times reported.