Driver Safety: 10 Tips for More Restful Sleep

Whether your drivers are local or not it is important for drivers to get quality sleep. Here are ten tips to help your drivers (and anyone really) feel more rested.

1. Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. It helps set your body’s internal clock and optimize the quality of your sleep.

2. Avoid sleeping in. It can be tempting to sleep in on weekends, but even a couple hours difference in wake time disrupts your internal clock.

3. Avoid bright screens within 2 hours of your bedtime. All light can interfere with sleep and your body’s rhythms, but the blue light emitted by electronics is especially disruptive.

4. Be smart about bedtime reading. Not all e-readers are created equal. Backlit devices are more disruptive than those illuminated from the front.

5. When it’s time to sleep, make sure the room is dark. The darker it is, the better you’ll sleep.

6. Time your exercise right. Exercise speeds up your metabolism, elevates body temperature, and stimulates activating hormones such as cortisol. If you’re exercising too close to bed, it can interfere with sleep.

7. Cut down on caffeine. You might be surprised to know that caffeine can cause sleep problems up to ten to twelve hours after drinking it!

8. Stay away from big meals before you sleep. Try to avoid heavy, rich foods within two hours of bed. Fatty foods take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up.

9. Avoid alcohol before bed. While a nightcap may help you relax and fall asleep faster, it interferes with your sleep cycle once you’re out.

10. Avoid drinking too many liquids before bed. Drinking lots of water, juice, tea, or other fluids may result in frequent bathroom trips.

This blog is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice. Content is provided by our professional consulting partners at Integrated Loss Control (ILC).