shift work sleep issues

[MorkandMindy]

Well I got 6 hours sleep yesterday and again 6 hours today. The shift work style consultant told us 6 hours is the magic number, above that we should be fine, below that and we will suffer.

I'm off to work again in a few minutes, 7 PM to 7 AM. The really tough bit is driving home the next day, we do fall asleep on the way back occasionally but none of us have yet had an accident.


Many thanks for your comments and suggestions, particularly on deep sleep and other things I didn't know.

 

[mjmcmillan]

Well I got 6 hours sleep yesterday and again 6 hours today. The shift work style consultant told us 6 hours is the magic number, above that we should be fine, below that and we will suffer.

I'm off to work again in a few minutes, 7 PM to 7 AM. The really tough bit is driving home the next day, we do fall asleep on the way back occasionally but none of us have yet had an accident.


Many thanks for your comments and suggestions, particularly on deep sleep and other things I didn't know.

I don't know about your vehicle, but-- my van has a reclining seat. Seems to me, in your situation, I would use that seat before leaving the parking lot. Half an hour of shut-eye before getting on the road can do wonders.

 

[dayhiker]

When I was in my early 20's I worked 3rd shift. Almost always it was right home and to bed. One day I had to go visit a cousin, my 1st accident was on the way home from the visit. Light turned red and it didn't register till I saw the cars start to cross the intersection. Brakes, but didn't slow enough and hit a car my left front to her right front.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I usually only sleep 5-6 hours a night.

 

[MorkandMindy]

I don't know about your vehicle, but-- my van has a reclining seat. Seems to me, in your situation, I would use that seat before leaving the parking lot. Half an hour of shut-eye before getting on the road can do wonders.

We are all a bit poorer than that, have sub compact cars without reclining seats and no tinted windows. And unsuccessful attempts to get to sleep in the car park will cut into sleeping time that day and make it even harder the following night.

But the company advice is just as you say, that anyone who is going to fall asleep on the way home, or thinks they are likely to, should instead sleep in their car in the car park.

 

[mjmcmillan]

Hmmm.... I wonder if you can get the car re-fitted with recliners? I had a pick-up once that had a bench seat, it was possible to go to an RV store nearby and get a recliner to fit so I did. Still, that was a full-size American pick-up and I realize that sub-compacts are different. Maybe the dealer can help???

I don't have tinted windows, either, but--- truck-stops in the area sell "privacy screens". It amounts to a black-out curtain that stretches from the seat-belt upper fastenings, hooks to the sun-visor mounts, then to the opposite upper seat-belt fastening. It should be easy to make one at home, no real technology involved, and it would help darken the front of the passenger compartment. Obviously it works better on trucks, but my guess is that it would work at least sort-of on a car, too.

 

[MorkandMindy]

Thank you for that mjmcmillan, I'll raise it at work.

The other big problem is about half the guys go to sleep on getting home, about 8 AM, but then wake up at 1 PM and can't get back to sleep.