It's estimated that 15 percent of the U.S. workforce are shift workers—such as nurses, doctors, other medical professionals, drivers, and police officers—who do not keep a regular 9 to 5 schedule.
Shift workers are at significantly increased risk for sleepiness, as well as the common health risks that come with insufficient sleep, such as high blood pressure and heart problems.
Shift work is challenging because it requires people to wake and sleep in a pattern that is out of sync with the body's biological clock. Our internal clock, or "circadian rhythm," influences many chemical changes in the body on a 24-hour cycle, naturally telling our bodies to become drowsy in the evening and more alert in the morning. It also influences things like appetite and mood.
When you have to sleep on an irregular schedule, you're working against your body's clock and you may find it difficult to sleep a full 7-9 hours. You also might find it difficult to be alert and productive if you're working at night because this is when your circadian rhythm produces sleep-promoting chemicals like melatonin.
Despite the challenges, shift workers need just as much sleep as people who work traditional hours, and even a small amount of sleep loss over time can damage your health or make you unsafe to drive or carry out work or family responsibilities.
If you experience sleepiness on the job due to shift work, try these strategies to help you stay alert:
Avoid long commutes and extended hours.
Take short nap breaks throughout the shift.
Work with others to help keep you alert.
Try to be active during breaks (e.g., take a walk, shoot hoops in the parking lot, or even exercise).
Drink a caffeinated beverage (coffee, tea, colas) to help maintain alertness during the shift.
Don't leave the most tedious or boring tasks to the end of your shift when you are apt to feel the worst. Night shift workers are most sleepy around 4-5 a.m.
Exchange ideas with your colleagues on ways to cope with shift work problems. Set up a support group at work so that you can discuss these issues and learn from one another.
When your shift is over and you have to sleep, here are some tips for sleeping during the day:
Wear dark glasses to block out the sunlight on your way home.
Keep to the same bedtime and waketime schedule, even on weekends.
Eliminate light and noise from your sleep environment (use eye masks and earplugs).
Avoid caffeinated beverages and foods close to bedtime.
Avoid alcohol; although it may seem to improve sleep initially, tolerance develops quickly, and it will soon disturb sleep.
