Are you tired of feeling…tired? Fatigue management is something many people overlook when it comes to safety, but making sure you and those around you are getting enough rest is critical to keeping workspaces free of incidents and accidents. 

According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board, 20% of all investigated accidents were related to fatigue, with fatigued drivers involved in 40% of highway crashes. It can be easy to fool yourself into thinking you are alert enough to do your job, but good preparation is always better than overcompensation. Here are a few tips to help assure you’re getting enough rest off the clock:

• Stick to a Schedule: Healthy adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to maintain optimal mental performance. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

• Prepare for Optimal Sleep: Ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and kept at an appropriate temperature control to support deep, restorative sleep. Before sleep, avoid late afternoon caffeine and late night meals as these can have a negative effect on your sleep habits.

• Take Strategic Microbreaks: Stepping away from your work for quick microbreaks or on-the-job stretch sequences (focusing on your neck, shoulders, hands, and lower back) keeps your body active and helps maintain focus. If you are a supervisor, please allow your team members time to briefly step back from their jobs and keep their bodies safe from long-term injury.

Maintaining good rest and sleep habits won’t only have a positive effect on your work; it will affect your overall quality of life by giving you more patience, better emotional regulation, and higher energy to enjoy your personal time with friends and family. Invest in yourself by prioritizing your rest and recovery so you can bring your best self to everything you do. Check out these additional tips to learn how to rest your mind and emotions as well as your body.