Even when you have early starts and work long hours there are small actions you can take to prepare for getting better quality sleep.

Why it matters.

Sleep impacts every function in your body.

• Your body needs about 7-9 hours of quality sleep every 24 hours to function normally. During these hours, your body – quite literally – removes the physical and emotional rubbish that builds up during the day. Your body heals itself.
• Not removing the physical and emotional rubbish from your day puts your body into a stress state.
• Being in a stress state breaks down your body’s ability to function normally. You get tired.
• About 7-9 hours of good quality sleep every 24 hours is free health insurance! Quality sleep is medicine that keeps you well. It keeps you refreshed and safe at work.

What should I do?

• Make sleep a priority – schedule it.
• Drink caffeine only in the first half of your day.
• No alcohol close to sleep.
• No large amounts of refined sugar or starch close to sleep.
• No big meals close to sleep.
• No vigorous exercise close to sleep.

How should I do it?

Make sleep a priority – schedule it 

• Schedule time to be asleep (about 7 hours or more if you need it) plus time to get to sleep and wake up (about 30 minutes). Set a reminder in your phone. Read more here

Drink caffeine only in the first half of your day.

Caffeine from coffee, tea, soft drinks or energy drinks stops your brain signals telling you to sleep.

• Caffeine can stay in your body for up to 12 hours. It builds up in your body when you have more than one drink.
• When you have caffeine in your body it is harder to get to sleep and when you do get to sleep, your body can’t get quality sleep. Over time, you get more and more tired.
• Leave enough time before sleep from the start of your day for caffeine to have worked its way out of your body.

Read more here 

No alcohol close to sleep.

When you first drink alcohol it makes you feel sleepy. But once you are asleep, alcohol in your body stops you getting deep sleep and stops your body healing itself. Read more here

• You might not remember them, but when alcohol is in your body your sleep is littered with small awakenings all through the time you are trying to sleep. Over time, you get more and more tired.

No large amounts of refined sugar or starch close to sleep.

At first refined sugar and starch make you feel sleepy. Once you are asleep, sugar and starch – if you eat them in large amounts – can interrupt your sleep and stop your body healing itself. Read more here

TIP: Choose a piece of fruit rather than lollies, cake or biscuits if you want something sweet before sleep.

No big meals close to sleep.

• Your body sleeps better when your stomach is not full. Read more here

No vigorous exercise close to sleep.

• Vigorous exercise within three hours of going to bed can push your body clock back and make it harder for you to fall asleep.

Other information

Tips for night shift

• Expose yourself to bright light in the evenings and during the night when working.
• Limit your light exposure in the morning after a shift and use blue-light blocking glasses to prevent sending your body a signal that it’s daytime.
• Exercising before a night shift tells your brain to be alert.
• Eating higher protein, lower carbohydrate meals like tuna salad can maintain alertness at night. Try eating a meal like this before you start working.
• Avoid alcohol when you’ve finished your shift. It will disrupt any sleep that you have during the day.
• Try to sleep as soon as you can in the morning after your shift. Don’t busy your mind with lists of things to do.
• Eat all your food within a 12-hour window. This helps set you up for a refreshing sleep in the day.

Sleep Apnoea is a concern for a lot of workers.

• Sleep Apnoea is a physical condition where your breathing is interrupted as you sleep. It stops you getting enough quality sleep for the body to heal itself.
• You are at risk for Sleep Apnoea if:
  • You snore loudly
  • You have repeated pauses in your breathing, you wake up coughing, or you wake up gasping for breath
  • Your neck circumference is larger than 43.18cm for males or 40.64cm for females
  • You have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or greater
• If you are concerned or don’t know what your BMI is – talk to your doctor about your concerns.
• You can also get more information at Sleep Disorders Australia

 

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Disclaimer:

The information provided by OzHelp Foundation Ltd is general information only and does not take into consideration your own personal circumstances. Before acting upon any information provided, please consider if the information is suitable to meet your own objectives and seek health advice specific to your needs, if appropriate.

Accordingly, OzHelp Foundation Ltd and its employees and agents shall have no liability (including without limitation liability by reason of negligence) to any users of the information provided for any loss or damage (consequential or otherwise), cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information and whether caused by reason of any error, negligent act, omission or misrepresentation in the information.