A warehouse is a work environment that requires you to be fully alert at all times, but unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. One in three American adults is sleep deprived, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re not in the habit of getting enough sleep — at least seven hours per night, as per the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society — you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of injury.
When looking for warehouse jobs in Bethlehem, PA, you always focus on companies that make safety a top priority, but if you’re in a perpetual state of exhaustion, you’re actually putting yourself in danger.
Fatigue and Warehouse Injuries
It’s impossible to identify the exact reason fatigue is often the leading cause of injury in warehouses, but this type of setting definitely contributes to exhaustion. Unlike a traditional office setting, many warehouses are a 24/7 operation.
Third shift employees might work from 11 pm to 7 am, which goes against the body’s circadian rhythm. Since the body is programmed for sleep during nighttime hours, working during this time frame can cause inevitable drowsiness, which is very dangerous in a warehouse job.
Combating Fatigue
The physical nature of a warehouse job can be hard on the body, but there are steps you can take to increase your energy levels. Here are a few tips to help fight fatigue:
Follow a Healthy Diet
Think fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, instead of whatever you can find in the break room vending machine. This will likely involve meal prepping at home, so make time in your weekly schedule to do this once for the entire week.
Make Sleep a Top Priority
Whether you’re on the first shift or the third, you still need the same amount of sleep to function. Create a bedtime routine that’s conducive to sleep — i.e., put your phone away, read a good book, take a hot shower — so your mind can slow down and drift into a state of relaxation.
Lay off the Caffeine
Most people think another cup of coffee will refill their energy levels, but it doesn’t work that way. In reality, too much caffeine can cause insomnia, so you’re not doing yourself any favors by downing it within eight hours of your bedtime.
Need a little help finding a rewarding new warehouse job in the Lehigh Valley? Contact HTSS, Inc. to connect with top local employers looking for talented workers like you.