The smallest amount of light can bother some people enough to have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Life on the road can be incredibly stressful and exhausting. Most people see the trucking life as easy – you get to sit down, right? – but they don’t realize the toll that driving can have on your physical, mental, and emotional health. One of the best ways to recoup each day is to get a good night’s sleep, (plus it will help you be a safer driver on the road). That’s a lot harder to do on the road than people might think. There are some tips and tricks you can use to get a better night’s sleep in your sleeper cabin, however. Read on to learn more.
Block The Light
The smallest amount of light can bother some people enough to have trouble falling or staying asleep. Investing in black-out curtains can help, but don’t forget that you also need to cover any lights inside your rig. Additionally, you might also benefit from wearing a sleep mask over your eyes.
Block The Noise
Noise is often another factor that keeps people from falling or staying asleep. If you can park away from loud disturbances – the road, other trucks, etc. – do so. If you can’t, earplugs may be a good option. If earplugs aren’t comfortable to sleep in, consider a white noise machine or app that can produce calming sounds that drown out other distractions. Finally, make sure that your phone isn’t distracting you by putting it on silent or do-not-disturb.
Keep It Comfy
Make sure that your rig is at the right temperature for comfortable sleeping for you. If you usually sleep in a very fantastic or hot room, try to replicate that in your rig as much as possible. During warm months, adding a fan can do double duty of providing airflow and white noise.
Maintain Your Mattress
Consider that perhaps the comfort of your mattress (or lack thereof) is what is keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep. It is hard to spend money on yourself, but consider it an investment and find a comfortable mattress or mattress topper. You’ll sleep better and wake with fewer aches and pains.
Establish Routines
Your job and your life are probably pretty unpredictable (that’s how this business usually goes), but setting a routine can make it easier to sleep on the road. Try to avoid swapping day-night schedules as much as possible, and strive to keep consistent hours each day. Once it is time for bed, do the same wind-down activities each night – listening to music, reading, tidying your rig, yoga, whatever! Therefore, your body and mind will adjust to the routine, and soon sleep will be the natural next step.
For All Your Trucking Needs
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Tags: safety tips, sleeping, trucking lifestyle