ShiftSync

Glossary

The terms ShiftSync uses, in plain language. No jargon left unexplained.

Alertness score

A 0–100 number estimating how sharp you're likely to feel at a given hour, based on your sleep and shift pattern. It's a planning aid for the hours after clock-out — not a medical clearance.

Anchor sleep

The one sleep block you protect every day, even on days off — same hours, dark and quiet. It keeps your body clock from drifting between stretches of shifts.

Caffeine cutoff

The latest time to have caffeine and still fall asleep on schedule. ShiftSync sets it 8 hours before your planned sleep, because caffeine lingers for hours after the last cup.

Circadian low point

The stretch in the early morning — roughly 2 to 5 AM — when your body is programmed to be at its least alert, even if you feel fine. It's when attention slips and errors peak.

Flip

Switching your sleep schedule from days to nights (or back). A flip works best when you move the sleep window a little each day before the first shift, not all at once on night one.

Wind-down

The 30–60 minutes before sleep: dim light, no screens, no heavy tasks. It tells your body that sleep is coming and makes the sleep you get deeper.

Post-call recovery

The protected sleep you take right after a long call ends — dark, quiet, and uninterrupted. Leaving the hospital isn't the end of the call; this sleep is part of it.

24s / 48s

Shorthand for 24- or 48-hour shifts, common in EMS and fire — one full day (or two) on duty, then off.

Want these terms in context? Read the rest-window guides.