Boosting Productivity and Safety: 5 Tips for Healthy Sleep Habits for Shift Workers 

Well-rested employees are happier and more productive. Here are HALEO Clinic’s top five tips for helping employees on shiftwork improve their sleep habits.

Sleep is crucial for overall health, and its significance in the workplace cannot be underestimated. Equipping employees with the necessary knowledge and strategies can foster a well-rested workforce, ensuring safe operations and maximizing team potential. 

Here are five tips to improve sleep habits for shift workers: 

1. Design comfortable rest areas and encourage their use  
   Employees can maximize their resting breaks in comfortable, sound-proof environments with dim lighting. Encourage them to close their eyes during breaks if they feel fatigued or drowsy; some might even fall asleep for a few minutes, boosting their energy and decreasing drowsiness. When they need to be vigilant for work during evening or night shifts, ensure they have appropriate and bright lighting. 
2. Support stress management 
   Be aware of their stress levels. High levels of stress can significantly impact sleep quality, and improved sleep quality and quantity can help reduce stress. Encourage employees to prioritize getting enough sleep and respond to their individual needs in that regard. If there’s a rush at work, sleeping less is unlikely to help the organization or the individuals. Better sleep is an efficient tool to deal with stress and one that is accessible to everyone.  
3. Be a game changer 
   Educate employees on the spectrum of benefits gained from prioritizing sleep. Offer educational programs and resources that provide information on healthy sleep practices. Topics to cover may include maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a sleep-friendly bedroom environment, practicing relaxation techniques before bed, limiting caffeine and electronic device use close to bedtime, the importance of winding down before sleep, and much more. 
4. Implement Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia programs 
   Consider incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I) for Insomnia programs as an option to support employees in improving their sleep. CBT-I is an evidence-based treatment that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of insomnia and promoting healthy sleep patterns. It involves techniques such as sleep restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive restructuring to help individuals develop better sleep habits and manage sleep-related issues. By offering CBT-I programs, organizations can provide employees with effective tools and strategies to overcome sleep difficulties and improve their overall well-being. 
5. Establish consistent schedules 
   Shift work disrupts circadian rhythms, and some employees are more flexible than others when it comes to changing schedules and sleep times. When possible, maintaining consistency in work schedules can help regulate employees’ sleep-wake cycles. If you can align the work schedule with your employees’ preferences (some are night owls and prefer working evenings and nights, while others perform better in the early morning), you are onto something! When employees’ schedules rotate over weeks, make sure to give them enough time to recuperate in-between different schedules. 

By implementing these tips, organizations can empower shift workers to improve 

their sleep habits and create a healthier, safer, and more productive work environment. Investing in sleep health is a strategic decision that directly impacts productivity, safety, and the bottom line. Organizations that prioritize healthy sleep habits gain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic business landscape. 

Learn more about how HALEO can help your employees build better sleep habits. 

Learn more about HALEO