Shift Workers and Irregular Sleep: Practical Strategies for Tehran's 24-Hour Workforce

Fatigue is surging across Tehran’s night shift workforce, with new reports from Shahrak-e Gharb’s Parsian Clinic revealing that more than 40% of shift workers now experience chronic sleep disruptions. Tehran’s 24-hour economy—from hospital wards to all-night bread bakeries—depends on people whose body clocks must defy conventional hours, yet the cost to personal health is mounting.

Across the capital, public health researchers warn that shift work is not just an inconvenience. Studies connect irregular sleep with higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and mood disorders. As the mercury climbed above 38C last week, taxi fleets on Valiasr Avenue and hospital emergency units in Narmak saw staff calling in sick at record rates, citing exhaustion and poor sleep. Experts told The Daily Tehran that growing numbers of Tehranis working nights or split shifts face a silent, cumulative toll—at a time when energy is needed most.

Tehran’s Sleepless Workforce: Local Impact

In District 6, the Imam Hossein Hospital’s internal survey last month found one in three nurses struggling with persistent insomnia. Meanwhile, Tehran Metro’s Line 2 supervisors, responsible for managing late-night train traffic between Sadeghieh and Farhangsara, have doubled their workshops on sleep hygiene since March. Private industries are following suit. Hypermarkets along Shariati Street, including Hyperstar and Bamland Mall, now offer quiet ‘nap rooms’ during overnight shifts—an amenity once reserved for startups and IT hubs.

The Iranian Association of Sleep Medicine (IASM), headquartered near Behesht-e Zahra, has launched a Telegram advice channel in Farsi, “Khab-e Behtar” (Better Sleep), distributing evidence-based tips for workers with night rosters. The channel, now with over 7,800 subscribers as of July, features weekly advice ranging from caffeine cut-off times to downloadable audio guides for guided meditation in the workplace breakrooms.

The Data and the Daily Reality

National survey data from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare published in January 2026 indicated that 19% of Tehran’s workforce regularly works outside the traditional 8am–6pm window—one of the highest urban percentages in Iran. Among these shift workers, more than half report ‘severe’ sleep disruption, with the average sleep duration dropping to just 5 hours per day. Meanwhile, sales of blackout curtains on sites like DigiKala have risen 23% since Ramadan—a clear sign Tehranis are seeking physical solutions to block out summer sunlight on day-sleep schedules. A standard set at the Tehran Grand Bazaar runs about 850,000 rials.

Health risks aside, the economic pressures are real. A 2025 report by Sharif University’s Psychology Department estimated productivity losses from sleep deprivation cost Tehran’s businesses over 96 billion tomans annually in absenteeism, mistakes, and injuries. Yet for many—like security guards in Sa’adat Abad towers or 24/7 dispatchers for Snapp and Tap30 ride-hailing apps—alternative employment isn’t an option.

Practical Steps for Shift Sleep

So, what can shift workers do now? Local health organisations and sleep clinics urge simple but targeted steps: sticking to a sleep schedule (even on days off), using blue-light blocking glasses on night duty, and investing in mattress pads to muffle city noise. Nutritionists at the Vanak Branch of Kowsar Clinic recommend a light protein snack at dawn, and avoiding sugary teas after 2am. Several Tehran gyms—such as Aramesh Fitness Centre on Saadat Abad Boulevard—now run early-morning yoga classes to help recalibrate circadian rhythm after a graveyard shift.

Looking ahead, Tehran Municipality’s Public Health Office says new pilot programs for shift worker wellbeing—including subsidized counseling and sleep education seminars—will expand to public hospitals and Tehran Metro staff by September. For many in this sleepless city, practical strategies and strong community support could mean the difference between mere survival and sustainable health.