Professions Affecting Sleep

If not, maybe your near and dear ones are. Or maybe someone you know, who knows someone, who happens to be in some kind of profession. Sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being and is important for everyone, regardless of profession. However, certain professions can have a particularly significant effect on the quality and quantity of sleep people get. For those in professions that require round-the-clock availability, such as doctors, nurses, police officers and firefighters, the lack of consistent sleep can lead to fatigue, increased stress levels and a decrease in performance. Those in such professions often need to be alert and ready to respond quickly to emergencies and are unable to take regular or predictable rest breaks or set sleeping hours. Professions that involve working long hours can also lead to sleep deprivation. Working late into the night or having an unpredictable schedule can be disruptive to the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and make it harder to fall and stay asleep. Shift work is another example of a job that can have a negative effect on sleep. People who work night shifts may find themselves having difficulty sleeping during the day when the rest of the world is awake and active, while those who work rotating shifts may suffer from chronic fatigue due to the constantly changing sleep patterns. Careers that involve frequent travel can also disrupt sleep. Source: https://www.sleepsia.com/blogs/bamboo-pillow/professions-affecting-sleep