Postal workers and security guards are among those who get the least sleep, with software developers and shoe shop assistants enjoying longer lie-ins, according to a study by newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Security guards get an average of 6hr 27min a night, whereas shoe shop assistants manage 7hr 24min, the German paper reports.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests most adults require eight hours of sleep, but the amount depends on the individual, with some feeling rested after only three hours a night. Tips for a good night’s sleep include not drinking caffeine too late and weakening “the link of being in bed with doing things that are likely to keep you awake – like watching exciting TV programmes, doing work, or organising things”.

Share your experiences

We’d like to hear how your job affects your sleep. Do work worries keep you staring at the ceiling in the early hours? Has shift work affected your circadian rhythms? Are you expected to check your emails after you have left the office – even in the minutes before you’re hoping to drop off? Would you consider changing jobs to get more sleep, or have you done so in the past? And are there any solutions you’ve found for work-related sleep problems – changing your shift pattern, maybe, or a digital detox?