ideas needed please

[Staci]

i start the night shift this sunday. i have never worked the night shift before so i need some ideas on how to transition.

 

[Springsteen]

Coffee, it's your friend.

 

[Staci]

i already have a torrid affair with coffee LOL

but shhhhhhhhhhhh dont tell este

 

[pjbleek]

starting tonight start your routine:
get ready for "work" then when your shift starts, stay up as long as you can and note when you are feeling tired. do not become dependent on coffee, no doz, caffeine, and the like. recognize your body is going to go through changes and it has to be willing to adjust. make a regime as to when you sleep and when you wake up. even on your days off keep the schedule so you don't miss your sleep and adjust yourself to this. more routine it is the easier the transition.

 

[Accountable]

get heavy curtains for the windows to block out the light when you sleep. If it's a temporary thing, then use a blanket or something.

 

[pjbleek]

get heavy curtains for the windows to block out the light when you sleep. If it's a temporary thing, then use a blanket or something.

and don't be afraid of the "dark".....lol

 

[freakofnature]

starting tonight start your routine:
get ready for "work" then when your shift starts, stay up as long as you can and note when you are feeling tired. do not become dependent on coffee, no doz, caffeine, and the like. recognize your body is going to go through changes and it has to be willing to adjust. make a regime as to when you sleep and when you wake up. even on your days off keep the schedule so you don't miss your sleep and adjust yourself to this. more routine it is the easier the transition.

This. Keeping to a routine is essential. When I'm on nights I stay up all night even on my weekends off. It makes things a lot easier if you do it that way rather than constantly trying to adjust to being up at different times of the day. It's easy for me to do because I'm single. I understand that this can be more difficult if you have a family.

 

[dancingpotato]

My nightshift pattern:

The night before I start (so say I am working Monday and Tuesday nights), Sunday night I go to bed when I am tired. I sleep until I wake up/have to get up (since you have kiddos), then in the afternoon I go for a nap.
I eat my dinner then go to work. I battle through my tiredness, keep myself busy if it's quiet. Personally I find if I sleep while on shift, I don't sleep so well during the day.

Sleeping in the day, like what was said before, heavy curtains to block out the light or an eyemask and if you can stand them, earplugs. It really depends how much noise you are going to have to sleep through, if the kids will be in or if people are likely to be cutting their grass etc.

Some people stay up late the night before they start, trying to get in a routine but I find this doesn't really work for me. Once you have done a few shifts you should find a pattern that works for you.

Good Luck!

 

[Staci]

i am at the fire station for the next 2 days working a 48 hour shift. i am gonna try to sleep during the day and stay up. i will get home sunday morning. the only problem with sunday it its mothers day.......

i will try the dark curtains. noise during the day should not be an issue since the kids will be at school.

thanks for the ideas so far!!

 

[Natasha]

Everybody pretty much covered it. I'm a heavy sleeper so I don't have a problem usually.

 

[AstriaPorta]

just make sure you do have a nice sleep when you not working, and let your body adjust..
what else to say... like Natasha said, everyone covered it already.

 

[Jackass master]

A full belly when you get home in the morning and some background music always worked for me. I assume you are talking about 3rd shift? 11-7 was always my favorite as I could get more done. Sunday nights try to get a nap before you go in.

 

[AnitaBeer]

Oh man, I feel for ya lady! I can assume it's going to be sucky with the kids and all. Hopefully you adjust well.
Are you actually working overnight or did you simply mean nights as in til midnight or something?

 

[Staci]

no my shift will be 7pm to 7am. one week 3 nights, the following week 4 nights.......

 

[Kyle B]

I worked the night shift during the summer before my senior year of high school. It wasn't really bad at all. I would try to get a few hours of sleep before you go in if you need it. Mostly, just work on shifting your sleep pattern.

 

[Jackass master]

no my shift will be 7pm to 7am. one week 3 nights, the following week 4 nights.......

Did that shift for over 3 years. I got tired of the 12 hour days after a while. I was salaried and they actually got a 13th month out of us with no extra pay. Hourly guys made big money for the same hours.

 

[dork]

Keep your room dark in the morning.

 

[fandangodavis]

Keep your room dark in the morning.

hmm its good idea

 

[Staci]

Did that shift for over 3 years. I got tired of the 12 hour days after a while. I was salaried and they actually got a 13th month out of us with no extra pay. Hourly guys made big money for the same hours.[/QUOTE

i am used to 12 hour shifts and 24 hour shifts. the only nice thing about it will be the shift differential....one for nights and another for weekends as well.....it will add up i hope!