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Alcohol - Friend or Foe?

© Stephen Weistling

This article is not about getting you to quit drinking. However, if you are a shiftworker, and you drink alcohol, there are some things to think about in order to maximize your sleep quality, productivity, and overall well being.

In a previous article, we addressed one of the biggest problems with shiftwork, and that is the lack of quality sleep one encounters. Not only do most shiftworkers lack enough sleep; they lack the type of sleep that they need. This includes “deep” or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which lets us feel rested when we arise.

One of the other big problems with shiftwork is the lack of ordinary social relationships. A shiftworker’s leisure time often does not coincide with the leisure times of family and friends. When you get home after working a night shift, what time is it? It probably isn’t the time most people like to go out and socialize.

These two problems largely explain why some shiftworkers turn to alcohol for relief. Let’s face it. The problems encountered by shiftworkers seem like a good excuse to have a drink. What can it hurt? And aren’t you dealing with enough already? You have to work those odd hours, set apart from the normal interactions of family and friends, and you have a sleep-wake cycle that wouldn’t be envied by anyone.

Yes friends, it happens. And it is normal. If you are a shiftworker and you drink, consider the following.

Sleep:

You have just finished a night shift, and you may still be a little wound up after work. You want to lie down, but you know you probably won’t get to sleep right away. So you have a drink to “relax”. What could be wrong with that? It’s not like you’re going to be out driving your car for awhile.

The problem with taking alcohol in order to sleep is that although you might fall asleep more easily, alcohol will quickly work to disrupt your normal sleep pattern. You’ll likely wake up after an hour or two and toss and turn for the next few hours. When you finally get up, you’ll feel worse than you did when you first went to lie down.

The other problem with getting into this type of situation is that drinking alcohol also leads to dependence on alcohol. You are likely to get into the habit of drinking whether it works for you or not. One of the “problems” with alcohol is that for most people it tastes good, and it’s an easy habit to perpetuate and a difficult one to break. And when you do break the habit, it may be even more difficult to fall asleep than before – at least for awhile. If you get discouraged easily, you may return to drinking before going to bed, and this becomes a vicious cycle.

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