To Your Health: Lack of Sleep Means You Are Running on Empty

By Tiffany Tam, MD, MPH, and Ann Backus, MS,

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

“I’m 56 years old. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep yet… I don’t even know what that is.”

The words of one commercial fisherman echo what many others feel: sleep is often sacrificed to the demands of fishing. Lobstering is a way of life along the Maine coast, but it’s also a profession that requires early mornings, long days, and constant physical effort. The result is that many lobstermen are running on empty when it comes to rest, and that can take a serious toll on both health and safety.

Lobstermen get up early and spend long hours at sea. Many find it hard to get enough rest. Cultivating techniques to relax and sleep will help protect your future health and wellbeing. Photo courtesy of Compass.

Unlike offshore scallopers who often spend consecutive days at sea, lobstermen usually come back to shore each night. You might think this means they’re better rested. But research led by the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), found otherwise. Lobstermen may not bunk down on-board, but their overall sleep quality isn’t much better than crews who do.

Why? The lobster fishery runs on early mornings, unpredictable weather, and shifting prices as well as regulations. Boats are often on the water before sunrise. Stress from finances, equipment repairs, and family responsibilities can keep captains and crew awake long after the day is done. Surveys show that nearly one in three commercial fishermen struggle to fall asleep and nearly half report poor-quality sleep.

According to the CDC, adults should aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night. Anything less, especially over the long term, is linked to a laundry list of health concerns: higher risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression, and even some cancers. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine also warns that chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of accidents by slowing reaction times and impairing judgment.

For lobstermen, the risk of accidents is amplified. A moment’s inattention while standing on a wet, pitching deck, or a delayed reaction when hauling gear can mean serious injury. Sleep-deprived workers are also more prone to memory lapses and poor decision-making, major hazards when navigating the unpredictable Atlantic.

The 2023 NEC study found that two in five fishermen reported pain so severe it interfered with sleep. Lobstermen in particular described aching backs, shoulders, and knees from hauling heavy traps, balancing on rolling decks, and kicking rope out of the way. That pain doesn’t fade at the dock. Add in the mental strain of regulations, uncertain prices, and family responsibilities, and it’s no wonder quality rest is often out of reach.

Let’s be honest — a full eight hours may not be realistic for lobstermen during the busy season. But health experts stress that even small changes can help offset the risks of chronic fatigue:

• Strategic napping: Short naps of 20–30 minutes, especially with a cup of coffee beforehand, can boost alertness without leaving you groggy. Consider grabbing a nap after coming ashore, before the next round of work or driving.

• Ease the aches: Stretching and light exercise can loosen sore backs, shoulders, and knees. If pain lingers, getting medical care helps keep it from interfering with sleep.

• Eat to recover: Anti-inflammatory foods like fish, fruit, nuts, and leafy greens support healing and make better rest more likely.

• Hydrate early and often: Drinking water through the day cuts down on dizziness, fatigue, and muscle strain, making it easier to settle down at night.

• Smart caffeine use: A steady cup of coffee or tea can sharpen focus. Avoid energy drinks, which can stress the heart and brain.

• Lean on support: Sharing stress with crew, family, or community resources lightens the mental load and helps you sleep easier once you are home.

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Even if the amount of time for sleeping is short, these steps can make the sleep lobstermen do get more restful, protecting both health and safety.

As the NEC study noted, investing in health—whether through diet, exercise, hydration, or better sleep—can boost mental sharpness and energy, making the hard work of hauling gear just a little easier. And, just like a boat, a body that’s maintained lasts longer.

That fisherman who admitted, “I haven’t had a good night sleep yet… I don’t even know what that is,” may have been half joking. But his words capture the reality for many lobstermen. Sleep remains elusive in a job that demands long hours and constant vigilance. Still, finding ways to optimize rest and sleep can protect health, prevent injury, and keep Maine’s fishing tradition strong for the long haul.