Pilot Study: Caffeine‑Nap on Night‑Shift Alertness
Summary
This pilot crossover study tested whether a “caffeine-nap” — drinking 200 mg of caffeine just before a 30-minute nap at 3:30 a.m. — could help reduce sleep inertia during a simulated night shift. Six participants completed both caffeine and placebo nap conditions. Compared to placebo, the caffeine-nap led to better vigilant attention and less subjective fatigue in the 45 minutes after the nap. The findings suggest that combining caffeine with a short nap may be a useful fatigue countermeasure during overnight work, though larger trials are needed.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
For night workers, one of the hardest times to stay sharp is the early morning stretch, when alertness naturally drops. This study shows that pairing a short nap with caffeine just before sleeping can reduce grogginess and boost attention immediately after waking. While it’s not a substitute for full sleep, the caffeine-nap may be a practical tool to stay safer and more focused during critical hours of a night shift.
Notes
Shift‑work context pilot.