Night shift advice?

sierraberry32

 I have been working in retail since I was 14, and I am getting a bit tired of it, so I applied for a job at a care home! Low and behold I went in for an interview, apparently it went well because they called me in to get a background check, finger print scan and drug test. As long as I pass the drug and background test,(I have no doubt that I will pass) I should have this job with no problem!! 

So here are my questions, have any of you ladies worked a night shift? The hours are 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. If so, what remedies did you use in order to stay awake? And do you actually get used to being awake at night, or are you exhausted 24/7?

allykat08

I'm a night shifter, I have been for 2 years now, I work 7PM-7AM 3 nights a week. It get easier but it's never easy, if that makes sense.. I work tonight but didn't last night, hence the reason I'm up at 0500. I usually get up at 0500 the morning of my first night, then go back to bed around 1000 and sleep till 4pm when I have to get up to get ready for work, so I can prepare. It makes it easier to stay up all night. I work with girls that wake up at their normal time in the am and then work all night, I could never do it.

Black out curtains are a must, as it some white noise to sleep during the day, as well as turning you cell on silent. No one remembers that you sleep all day, and I wake up to numerous calls and texts. I've found an app on my phone called a white list that will let certain people's numbers ring if on silent so my fiance and mom can get a hold of me if there is an emergency.

ckerr04

I think the easiest way to make the transition is to get into a routine. You'll have to find time to manage the activities you would normally do during the day AND make sure you get plenty of sleep... It will be difficult at first, but if you start out with a structured plan it may be helpful to ease you into it...

 Good Luck!! :-)

lyndausvi

I've worked 3rd shift before.   A rountine is key.   I use to do 9pm-5am.   I would go home, eat breakfast like it was dinner.  I would run errands and stuff.  Go to sleep around 11-12 until about 6-7pm.  Then I would wake up and have dinner likes it's breakfast.    since I could not always get things done in the morning, I would sometimes have to adjust and go to bed ealier so I could do stuff before heading into work.

Sierra524

I worked third shift for 4 months and I couldnt do it anymore. Your body NEVER gets use to it, depsite what some people may say. I felt like it was ruining my life, so I asked to be moved back to days. My best advice is to limit the amount of caffiene you drink during your shift, so you can go home and sleep right away. That was always my hardest problem...I would drink coffee the entire shift, and then when I got out at 9am, I couldnt go to sleep until about 2pm and then only get a few hours. Some days, I wouldnt sleep at all and just stay up for like 48 hours. Black curtains are a great idea! And def keep yourself distraction free while you try to sleep. Try to maintain the same sleep schedule on your days off or your body will get really confused. Best of luck with the new job & I hope you like third shift more than I did.

1mobags

I did 7pm-7am for 7 years...... What worked for me was the night before my first nightshirt I would stay up super late (2am) and sleep as late as possible and not nap before work just go in that way I would crash when I got home. When I was not on the next night I would either nap when I got home (8am-11) or stay up all day and go to bed at a normal time. Key is: blackout shades, eye mask, and scheduling shifts together if possible

LizM61409

http://www.brookstone.com/NapForm-Eye-Mask?bkiid=Related_Items_Zone|ProductDetails|Accesories|616730p

This is THE BEST eye mask. Totally comfortable, you can open your eyes with it on and see absolutely nothing. I work night shift 2 months out of the year (6:30pm to 8am) so all I really have time for is work, sleep, shower, repeat. Shell out for the brookstone mask (worth it!) and remember to eat something light before bed in the morning, your sense of hunger gets all screwed up at night and you tend not to sleep very well on an empty stomach

sierraberry32

Thank you ladies! I am taking over for my friend who hated it, but then again she had to share her room, so I can see how difficult it could have been! And, I know how people can forget you sleep during the day, not fun! 

Sierra524

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_night-shift-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:c8ec1d7d-5e3b-42c9-a88e-671daad0d300Post:31b36558-fd1e-4f26-b8ce-a7f2864e9899">Re: Night shift advice?</a>:
[QUOTE]I did 7pm-7am for 7 years...... What worked for me was the night before my first nightshirt I would stay up super late (2am) and sleep as late as possible and not nap before work just go in that way I would crash when I got home. When I was not on the next night I would either nap when I got home (8am-11) or stay up all day and go to bed at a normal time. Key is: blackout shades, eye mask, and scheduling shifts together if possible
Posted by 1mobags[/QUOTE]

Didnt this kind of make you feel like a zombie though? My sleep schedule was kind of random like that and I really ended up just feeling like a zombie.