For people who work outside of the regular daytime hours, it can be a real balancing act. Not only are they trying to maintain some type of continuity with marriage, children and friendship, they are also fighting an irregular sleep pattern. As a whole, we are becoming a 24-hour society, since there is an increasing amount of people who work through the night providing late night services to people around the world. Shift workers have it especially hard when it comes to sleep. They are fighting their natural circadian rhythm, which can play havoc on their system.
Shift work is often associated with people who are in the service industry, such as those who work in the medical field, firefighters, police and truck drivers to name a few. However, shift work is now extending out in to other the fields as well. Because of the current job market people are being forced to work the less popular hours in order to get the best job positions or remain employed. Sleep issues that arise from shift work is often one of the biggest battles they face. Since their internal body clock is completely out-of-sync with their working schedule, they typically have trouble sleeping when they can sleep and then feel unrested and tired while awake. It is a battle they face on a daily basis.
The number of hours people work has a huge impact on how tired they will feel. Those who work very long shifts are more tiring, however if someone works less hours on a night shift they will actually be more tired than someone who works longer hours during the day. This is because they are fighting their natural body clock. Often lack of sleep is the most often bi-product of shift work and night workers often have some of the most important jobs in our society. Talking to other shift workers for tips and advice on how they deal with the daily struggle to maintain consistent quality sleep may help to improve fatigue. Seeking medical support may be an alternate option.
Here are some ways to improve a sleeping environment and make it more favorable for sleep.
- Keep your bed clean and clear
- Make sure it is quiet
- Keep it dark
- Have it a bit cooler
- Stay off the computer and no watching TV prior to going to bed
Lastly, make sure your sleeping surface is one that will allow you to get comfortable. Sleeping on a lumpy 20-year-old mattress is not conducive to getting a restful sleep. Mattress experts often say that ultra-firm mattresses are good for consumers, but research on patients with back pain has found this was not true and a more supple, comforting mattress may lead to better sleep. The Nature's Sleep Memory Foam Mattress conforms to your body, which allows for a deeper sleep that's free from aches and pains.