Dear Apple, Can We Have a Night Shift Setting for the Apple Watch?
As an Intensive care doctor who is writing this before working a set of seven night shifts, I see a significant opportunity for Apple to enhance the utility of the Apple Watch for myself and countless others that work night-time hours.
‘The proposition is simple: introduce a 'Night Shift setting on the Apple Watch to better cater to the needs of those working non-traditional hours.’
Working night shifts, often back-to-back, is a common reality for many doctors, nurses, and many other professions. The transition from day to night schedules can be challenging, affecting our sleep patterns, fitness schedules, overall energy levels, and ultimately, our performance. A feature that helps manage this transition could be a boon to our routine, promoting better sleep hygiene and work-life balance. Also, having your steps reset at midnight (the middle of our ‘day’) is somewhat frustrating.
The envisioned ‘Night Shift’ or 'Shift Work' setting would allow users to input their upcoming shift schedule into the Apple Watch. The watch could then provide tailored recommendations to gradually adjust sleep schedules in anticipation of the night shift, such as suggesting optimal times to sleep, wake, and take short power naps. Moreover, during the night shift, timely reminders for hydration, breaks, or even brief mindfulness sessions could be provided to help maintain focus and alleviate stress.
Hitting the gym or even just getting in a good run isn't always straightforward when you're juggling night shifts. But what if your Apple Watch could tell you the optimal time to lace up the running shoes, based on your unique sleep and work schedule? We're not just talking about squeezing in a workout; we're talking about doing it when your body is primed for performance. No more guessing games, just solid, data-driven advice to help you balance a hectic job with staying fit.
After listening to a recent Huberman Lab Podcast (#84), you'll understand what shift work can do to health. Andrew Huberman breaks down the science of sleep in a way that's both eye-opening and super relevant for night-shifters. Think of this proposed setting as a practical application of cutting-edge research.
Integration with smart home devices could be explored to create a conducive sleep environment, for instance, by adjusting room lighting and temperature. Lighting and temperature are all key ingredients for good sleep. Anyone trying to get to sleep at 9am in the morning knows that blackout curtains and cool rooms are ideal.
‘The ‘Night Shift’ setting, going beyond mere notifications, would offer a proactive, adaptive, science backed approach to managing night shift schedules.’
This setting isn't a one-size-fits-all solution but by creating a feature that understands and adapts to individual patterns, it would be helping to make the transition between, and maintenance of, day and night schedules smoother.
With a 'Night Shift' setting, the Apple Watch could serve as a valuable tool for professionals like myself, assisting us in navigating the challenges of nocturnal employment.
Such a feature aligns with Apple’s commitment to practical, user-centric solutions and stands to further endear the Apple Watch to a broader user demographic, while positively impacting the well-being and productivity of night-shift workers globally. Also to hopefully help me get a better sleep on my next set of shifts.
