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ADVANCE Outlook: Lab Professionals

Saved by the Buzz

Published June 1, 2010 12:53 PM by Amanda Koehler

I have a confession to make -- I may have a small addiction to soda. I've been drinking the oh-so-bad for you beverage pretty routinely for at least 10 years now. And yes, I am aware of how bad this is. Yes, I have tried to go "cold turkey" and cut back... and sometimes it works for a while. But soon enough, I'm back to my old soda consuming habits.

Not only do I just like soda for the taste, but it is my sole caffeine jolt. I'm not a big fan of coffee, so soda is what I drink to perk me up. Sometimes when I'm at work looking at my computer screen, thinking about how tired I am, I swear my brain screams for a Pepsi. (While writing this paragraph, I made a trip to the vending machine for one.)

I can get through the day without caffeine, but isn't it so much better with it? I'm sure those of you who work the night shift especially will agree with me. Actually, a recent study has shown drinking caffeine during the night shift can help reduce errors.

Night shift workers (and you dayshifters, too): what is your caffeine consumption like on the job? Do you think it helps you cut down on errors?

1 comments

I work the beloved graveyard shift and don't drink anything with caffeine in it.  

I am a day person by nature and have a hard enough time sleeping during daylight hours as it is, without caffeine in my system.  I am lucky if I get a cumulative 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day, otherwise it is insomnia-ville.  I have always been like this and haven't adjusted yet.

My only glimmer of hope is that in 25 years, I can retire to a dayshift position and finally get some sleep when I am 58 years old.

bottom line... just like driving... nothing ...  -nothing- is better than good, restful sleep.  Caffeine or other supplements merely mask the fact that your body and brain are in sa leep deficit and errors will still happen.  All these do is make you wired and high strung and (I believe) more prone to making errors, as you think that you are awake, when, in fact, your mental capacity is still diminished.

Ryan June 8, 2010 9:17 AM
NY

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