Two 15‑Minute Naps on the Night Shift: Effects on Sleepiness, Fatigue, and HRV

Two 15‑Minute Naps on the Night Shift: Effects on Sleepiness, Fatigue, and HRV

Type: Field / Observational study

Registration: PMCID: PMC4202767

Status: Published

Tags: Fatigue & alertness, Field study, Naps, Night shift

External URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4202767/

Summary

Two short naps reduced tension and stabilized autonomic markers during night shift duty.

Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls

On‑shift measurements how brief, scheduled on‑shift naps (timing/length) was evident on shift as sleep & alertness for night‑shift workers and night owls. Findings add structure to the idea that the circadian low can be managed by how rest is divided and timed on duty. For people who work nights, that frames an everyday choice (when you eat, how you light the end of a shift, how rest is split) as part of the mechanism, not just routine.

Tags

  • Fatigue & alertness
  • Field study
  • Naps
  • Night shift

Notes

Includes HRV/sympathetic activity outcomes.

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