More than 22 million Americans are shift workers, and that number is growing by 3% each year, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Many shift jobs, such as police duty and emergency medical services, don't allow you to take a nap break. But for those that do, it's vital that you do take a ten-minute rest. You need to be alert and functioning. It is difficult to change your internal clock and stay awake during the natural sleep hours of 12-6 a.m. During the second half of the shift, 10- 20% of night shift workers fall asleep on the job. This not only affects their job performance but also their daytime sleep.

If you work the graveyard shift, or the early morning shift, you may find it difficult to sleep during the day. You should, in general, darken your bedroom and inform your family or anyone you are living with not to disturb you during the day, or to try to keep the noise level down. It helps if you sleep in a bedroom isolated from the rest of the house. If you live in an apartment, inform your neighbors that you sleep during the day. Make sure you get at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep.

BACK