Best Holiday Gifts for Shift Workers

Keep your favorite spicy snoozers cool, comfy, and content with these temperature-regulating gifts.

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November 22, 2022

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Shift worker’s sleep tends to suffer due to their atypical lifestyle. Do you have a shift worker in your life who needs better sleep? Check out our guide to the best holiday gifts for shift workers for products they really need.

Best Gifts for Shift Workers

Hatch Restore

The Hatch Restore alarm clock works with the Hatch app to help you wake up feeling refreshed and maintain good sleep habits.

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The Hatch Restore is one cool clock. On top of it acting as a typical alarm clock, you can choose between soothing sounds, create a customized sleep schedule, pick fun light settings, and more! This is perfect for shift workers since light plays a big part in the sleep-wake cycle. Specifically, light triggers cortisol production, a stress hormone that can increase alertness. This can make it easier for a shift worker to wake up, even if it’s still dark outside.

Additionally, Hatch Restore might help speed up sleep. It has a soft-glow reading setting, but doesn’t emit blue light — a type of light that can make it harder to fall asleep. It also boasts a white noise setting which can help you settle into snooze mode.

Bonus: The Hatch Sleep Membership includes a huge library of meditations, soundscapes, and sleep stories. All of this can be controlled with soft-touch buttons on the clock, or by using the Hatch Sleep app for iOS or Android.

Nolah Squishy Pillow

The Nolah Squishy pillow is just as huggable as it sounds. It comes overstuffed with gel memory foam and poly-fiber fill, and can be adjusted to match your preferred feel and loft level. We recommend it to everyone except for down lovers, combination sleepers, and those with budget constraints.

Mattress Nerd Score

4.50 / 5

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Pillows are the unsung heroes of sleep. Studies show a great pillow can actually improve sleep quality. This can be a great benefit for shift workers who sleep during the day or polyphasic sleepers who aren’t able to sleep seven to nine hours at a clip.

While the Nolah Squishy pillow is on the pricier side, it’s very versatile and comes with a 2-year warranty. Each pillow is filled with shredded contouring foam and has a breathable bamboo blend cover. It even boasts a dual-chamber design that lets you add or remove foam. This can help your gift recipient get the perfect firmness, feel, and height for their unique needs.

See our full Nolah Squishy Pillow review to learn more about the mattress.

Saatva Sateen Sheets

The Saatva Organic Sateen sheets are luxurious, 300 thread count sateen weave sheets. Their silky and buttery feel, and lightweight feel make them perfect for shoppers looking to splurge a bit on quality sheets.

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5.00 / 5

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The Saatva Organic Sateen Sheet Set is a splurge on a high-quality, luxury bedding set. These super smooth sheets can help make your shift sleeper’s bed a comfy paradise, which might help them fall asleep faster.

The organic 300-thread count sateen sheets get softer with every wash. They’re also very breathable which is perfect for hot sleepers. With each set you get a fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two pillowcases. It comes in calming colors like white, ivory, and gray.

See our full Saatva Sateen Sheets review to learn more.

Helix Weighted Blanket

The Helix weighted blanket has an ultra cozy duvet cover made with faux sherpa fleece and velvety microfiber. It’s not ideal for hot sleepers or light sleepers (the fill is noisy), but for the price, it should be on your radar if you want a weighted throw blanket.

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4.70 / 5

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The Helix Weighted Blanket is a great resource for shift workers. In a 2021 study, researchers found that weighted blankets helped participants fall asleep faster, sleep through the night, and stay relaxed during the day. A 2020 study also found that weighted blankets helped reduce anxiety, which could enhance overall sleep quality.

The blanket’s weight comes from thousands of fine-grade glass beads. The gridded internal stitching pattern allows for even distribution across the blanket. It also has a two-sided cover— one side is sheared microfiber and the other is a soft fleece.

P.S. This weighted blanket comes in 10-, 15-, or 20-lb. options!

See our full Helix Weighted Blanket review to learn more.

MZOO Sleep Eye Mask

Intrusive light can disrupt your ability to sleep properly. This is bad news for shift workers, who often have to sleep during daylight hours. A great way around this is using a sleep mask, which has been shown to significantly improve sleep quality.

Out of all the eye masks we researched, the MZOO Sleep Eye Mask came out on top. Despite its affordability, it definitely has a luxurious vibe. It’s made with top-quality fabric and has an adjustable strap. But the best part? The rebound memory foam doesn’t put pressure on your face, and it doesn’t rub up against your eyes. Reviewers also say it blocks out more light than most masks.

Layla Memory Foam Topper

Layla's mattress topper features copper gel-infused memory foam to prevent overheating.

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4.20 / 5

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Mattress toppers offer the best of both worlds — they bring new life to your bed without the cost of a brand new mattress.

Since there are tons of toppers to research, we did the work for you. The Layla Memory Foam Topper offers a 3.5 lb density copper gel infused topper, for top-notch comfort. This can help your shift worker relax, even if they have a scattered sleep schedule.

By the way, the topper comes with a 120-night trial that includes a money back guarantee. And if there are any issues after that, Layla offers a 5-year warranty.

See our full Layla Memory Foam Topper review to learn more

How do shift workers improve sleep quality?

Adjusting to a shift work schedule can take weeks, months, or even years. Here are some tips to help you get into a good groove.

Keep things consistent: Try to stick to the same sleep schedule all week long, even on your days off.
Improve your sleep environment: Use earplugs, wear an eye mask, install blackout curtains, and make sure your bed is very comfortable. It’s also a good idea to keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.
Use a noise machine: White noise is a great way to relax the mind and body before bed. As a bonus, they can block out environmental noise that might wake you up.
Avoid blue light: Blue light can keep your brain alert, making it harder to fall asleep. Try not to look at any electronic devices, like your cellphone, laptop, or TV— at least an hour before bed.
Limit caffeine: Coffee, energy drinks, and soda can give you a boost at the beginning of a shift. However, drinking caffeine close to your bedtime can keep you awake and reduce sleep quality. Avoid caffeine for at least six hours before you plan on sleeping.
Don’t drink: Having an alcoholic drink before bed might make it easier for you to fall asleep, but it also reduces sleep quality and can make you wake up early. So skip the moose and opt for a soothing cup of sleepy time tea.

What is shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)?

An atypical work schedule can cause a condition called shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). This includes folks who work:

split shifts
rotating shifts
graveyard shifts
early morning shifts

According to a 2021 study, an estimated 32 percent of night workers and up to 26 percent of workers in rotating shifts have SWSD. One of the most common symptoms is chronic fatigue. You may also experience a changes in your:

hunger
alertness
sleep quality
hormone levels
body temperature

Recap of the Best Holiday Gifts for Shift Workers

The best gift you can get a shift worker is one that will help them get quality rest, regardless of the time of day. Here’s a recap of our top six gifts:

Resources

Babaii A, et al. (2015). Effect of Using Eye Mask on Sleep Quality in Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4733498/

Baric VB, et al. (2021). The Effectiveness of Weighted Blankets on Sleep and Everyday Activities – A Retrospective Follow-up Study of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34184958/

Brito RS, et al. (2021). Prevalence of Insomnia in Shift Workers: A Systematic Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157778/

Eron K, et al. (2020). Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32204779/

Effects of Light on Circadian Rhythms. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emres/longhourstraining/light.html