Top 10 Sleep-Deprived Occupations

Many factors can be involved when it comes to sleep deprivation, including diet, stress, your environment, and... your job?

That's right: according to a recent study done by Sleepy's mattress company, your career field may play a big role in the number of hours of sleep you get each night. The study found that professionals who get the least amount of sleep often are in some of the most high-pressure and stressful jobs, such as medicine and law enforcement.

Home Health Aides
Lawyers
Police Officers
Physicians, Paramedics
Economists
Social Workers
Computer Programmers
Financial Analysts
Plant Operators
Secretaries

Workers in the professions on this list average around seven hours of sleep per night, which is a full hour less than recommended.

Medical professionals such as home health aides, doctors, nurses and paramedics work more than 180 hours more on average per year than other workers, and their shift schedules can disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythm.

Police officers also often work night shifts, but the stress of the job also contributes to lack of sleep. A recent study found that 40 percent of officers have at least one sleep disorder, which could lead to an increased risk of safety issues such as falling asleep while driving or being injured on the job.

Don't despair if your job is on this list, or if you have difficulty sleeping from time to time because of work. There are things you can do to help you sleep better, such as:

using your SleepPhones to block out excess noise;
creating a dark and cool sleeping environment;
going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
eating right and exercising regularly.

By following these few simple tips, you can help your body get the sleep it needs.