How To Create Office Space in a Sleeper Cab
Being a truck driver entails far more than just driving a semi-truck. In addition to driving, a trucker is often required to complete general paperwork, maintain a work log, and write up various reports. With all of this in mind, traveling in a sleeper cab trailer becomes largely beneficial for drivers alike. Sleeper trailers offer enough space for truckers to work and rest. However, while it is important for truck drivers to have enough space to work and rest, it is equally important to have the ability to keep their work and sleep spaces separate. Just like at home, the space you dedicate to work should not infringe upon a healthy sleep environment. Given that a sleeper trailer provides limited space this may seem like a challenge, but by using some of the tips we outline below, keeping the two spheres separate becomes quite do-able!
The Importance of Keeping Work and Sleep Separate
In a sleeper cabin, it is so easy to overlook the importance of keeping your work area independent from your sleep environment. Because sleeper trailers can feel confined, it may even be appealing to work from the comfort of your bed or sleeping space after a long day of driving. However, by doing so, you are inadvertently sabotaging the quality of your sleep. The activities you conduct in your sleep environment become linked to your sleep. If you strictly use your bed as a place to sleep, then your brain will associate this area as a place of rest and relaxation. When you start bringing work into your sleep environment, your brain may begin to bring the stress and anxieties of work to your relaxation space, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
On the other hand, by blurring the line between sleep and work spaces, you may even find it to be more difficult to be productive. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Brian Wind, working in your sleep environment may contribute to decreased productivity as feelings of stress or frustration seep into a space that you associate with calm and rest, making it difficult to focus on work. Additionally, working in a space that is dedicated to rest and relaxation can open the door for procrastination and distraction.
How to Maintain Your Sleep Environment in the Face of Work
Being that the living space in your sleeper trailer may be limited, it may be more of a challenge to keep your work space physically separate from your sleep space. Still, there are measures you can take to ensure that your work will not affect the quality of your sleep. Creating a bedtime routine is just one. Having cues at the start and end of your work day, such as changing your clothes, can help switch your mind on and off of work at the respectful times. It may also be helpful to establish a ritual to end the workday. This could be as simple as tidying up your workspace and reading a book.
It may also do well to change up the ambience of your sleeper cabin atmosphere. When you are working, you can keep all overhead lights on and perhaps play certain music or background noise. When it gets closer to bedtime, maybe turn down the lights and play softer music. Maintaining this sort of routine can trigger your circadian rhythm to know when it is time to be alert for work and time to relax for sleep.
Despite spatial limitation, the best thing you can do is differentiate your work and sleep spaces in little ways. Use a small desk, a lap desk or compact file storage to create a dedicated “office space” or workstation in your cabin. Keep the pillows and blankets on your bed or bunk during the workday to maintain the work/sleep separation. If your current mattress is not providing the amount of comfort you need for proper rest and relaxation, it may be time to look at upgrading to a SleepDog® or BigDawg mattress™. , built to maximize comfort while on the road.
Creating Your Office Space
When creating a dedicated work space in your sleeper cab trailer, here are some of our favorite products to keep in mind that may contribute to your productivity in this space:
Single Power Inverter
Most sleeper trailers come stocked with built-in outlets, but if yours doesn’t or if you need more power supply, a single power inverter may prove useful. Designed with 2 AC outlets and one 2A USB charging port, this device can charge laptops, phones, tablets, and more by simply connecting to your semi truck’s battery.
Mighty WiFi M1 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Doing work without the internet is virtually impossible. If your truck is not already equipped with a WiFi system or built-in cellular data connections, a hotspot is a super easy solution. The Mighty WiFi M1 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is a highly-rated and widely-recommended device that will provide you with the high-speed Wi-Fi you need to get your job done. Even if your semi truck does feature built-in cellular data connection, those data plans come with a monthly fee, which might make a mobile hotspot a more affordable option for you.
AutoExec Front Seat Car Desk
The AutoExec Front Seat Car Desk functions as a great tool to keep your workspace separate from your sleep environment. This car desk can allow your passenger seat to double as a professional space. The AutoExec Front Seat Car Desk features a slide-out arm that extends a work tray another 23” from the edge of the desk. The desktop has a non-slip pad that helps prevent your laptop or tablet from sliding around. There is even a small storage space underneath the desk that can organize and secure loose papers or other office supplies.
Sleep & Work Better Over the Road with SleepDog®
At the end of the day, it is important to maintain both a healthy work environment and a healthy sleep environment when you spend most of your days in a sleeper trailer. While keeping these two environments separate may not always be easy, the help of compact office gadgets or high-quality sleep accessories from SleepDog® should do just the trick. You can also use our Tractor Trailer specific, Mattress Size Guide, to help you plan the perfect space for your sleeper. If you have any questions or need more information about maximizing comfort in your sleeper cabin, please feel free to contact our Customer Service specialists, who are happy to help.
