So people who work the night shift and try to sleep during the day are constantly fighting their biological clocks. This puts them at a risk of error and accident at work and of disturbed sleep. Sleeping during the day in a dark, quiet bedroom and getting exposure to sufficient bright light at the right time can help improve daytime alertness. As we get older, we don't need less sleep, but we often get less sleep. That's because our ability to sleep for long periods of time and to get into the deep restful stages of sleep decreases with age.
Older people have more fragile sleep and are more easily disturbed by light, noise, and pain.
They also may have medical conditions that contribute to sleep problems. Going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning, getting exposure to natural outdoor light during the day, and sleeping in a cool, dark, quiet place at night may help. While caffeinated drinks such as soft drinks and coffee may assist you in staying awake in the short run, they cannot help you make up lost sleep. Lack of sleep can also affect your appearance. You may not be able to catch up on lost sleep in only one or two nights.