Nightshift tips?

[asblackasyoursoul]

Hi all, I'm due to start night shift for a few weeks and I've never done it before.

Shift starts at 9.30pm, finishes at 7.30am.

I really have no idea what time I should wake up, should I eat 'breakfast' or 'dinner'?
And what about once I get home around 8am? What time do I go to sleep, should I eat much then?

Sorry this is pretty strange, I just feel totally lost having never done nightshift before!

You should try and get as much sleep during the day as you would have at night. I used to finish nights at 7am, be in bed by 8. I would have eaten earlier at around 3 am so no need for a meal before bed. Ideally wake up around 3 or 4pm, possibly have a snack, but I would eat a proper meal mid evening (my shifts were 8 hours).
The first few nights are a killer. Try and rest before you go in on the first shift. Your body takes time to adjust and I can only equate the feeling as similar to jet lag. Sleeping is easier in the winter than the summer (didn't see daylight for weeks).
Watch out for those pesky people who think because you are home during the day you are free to socialise/answer the phone etc. Make quite clear you will be asleep and must not be disturbed!

Thank you longearedbat!

Do you recommend sticking to the night schedule for the entire week?
E.g, first week I'm nightshift monday-Thursday. So should I stick to it on my days off too?
I'd prefer not to, but I think switching back and forth between day and nightshift would take a toll on me?

I often do night shifts and would second all that long has said. I try not to stick to it on my days off though it is easier said than done. On my 1st day off I go to bed for a few hours then try and get up earlier than I would have on the night shift days just to try and get a bit of normality back but as I said it's easier said than done and often find myself watching crap TV at silly o'clock wide awake lol

Working nights does take a terrible toll on you, especially if you are constantly having to change your sleep pattern for days off. I wouldn't stick to your night schedule though, you will miss out on normal life if you are only awake at night. We used to have a horrendous system for changing shifts, in that we'd finish a night shift at 7am, then change to day shifts at 3pm the same day. Having worked for 16 hours out of the previous 24, you'd then get home at 11pm and be unable to sleep, despite being totally knackered. (This was the met police in the 80s).
To change over, like the pp said, get up much earlier on your day off and try and go about your life normally. You will probably feel like your head is stuffed with cotton wool though.
God, I hated doing nights!

I often switch from days to nights in my job.
My first night on shift I try to have an afternoon nap in the day if I can, then I eat my evening meal and start shift at 7.30. I take fruit to snack on but have something to eat properly around 1am if possible. Usually a sandwich crisps and yoghurt with a drink.
I usually eat cereal about 530/6am again if I’m able to then get home about 8am and go straight to bed. If I’m on that night too I sleep til about 4 if I’m not in that night I get up at 12 it’s a killer but I can usually go to bed at normal time then

Have water and mints in the car for driving home in the morning. Drive home with windows down if you need to I nearly had a head on accident when I drove on the wrong side of the road coming home after night shift.

What LongEaredBat said. Going straight to bed after you arrive home is vdry important as you will feel overtired and may wish to have breakfast. Dont eat breakfast, it will wake you up and you need to sleep as early as possible for the best rest.

I have a two hour nap in the afternoon before I start. Full up on carbs and stodge. I take a snack to eat about 3am. We do take an hour or so for a nap if we can. On the last day I get up at lunch time.

I use an eye mask and silicone earplugs when sleeping.

I had a random night shift Saturday gone and worked all day Monday but couldn't sleep Sunday night so was knackered.

I used to do nights. Never really took to them! But my tips would be: Take plenty of food and drink. I would stay up when I got in and unwind for a bit. I’d have a light breakfast (avoiding caffeine), shower, then settle down by 10 but sleep til about 4.30. It’s always better if you can have your shifts together.

You will be fine, great advice from everyone here.
I hope you enjoy the night, whether busy or slower pace, and have fun driving past all the suckers driving to work in the morning!

I try and nap before my first shift. Avoid daylight as much as possible after your shift (once made the mistake of sitting on the patio to eat breakfast and did not sleep AT ALL). I wear an eye mask and have the radio on to help me sleep. Before i go to sleep i make sure my bag is packed/uniform ironed ready for that night.

If my dh isn't around to cook I'll make sure i have something easy to prepare for dinners on nights eg cottage pie in the freezer or chili in the slow cooker. I try and stick to normal-ish meals. So big dinner in the evening before work, and light breakfast when i get in about 8am. I'll nornally be asleep by 9am then usually wake for snack around 12/1pm. I'll sleep again (hopefully) until 4.30/5pm. During the shift i take protein heavy snacks (cheese, yoghurt, sliced chicken) and i always make sure there's crisps and sweet nibbly bits in the staff room to keep everyone going. I sometimes can't stomach food overnight which is why i still wake for a lunch snack.

I now only do 2 nights at a time but when i was training i did 3 or 4. 4 was an absolute killer!

I worked nights (7:30-7:30)for over 20 yrs albeit mainly pt . I never had a nap before the first night , just got up as usual in the morning and then worked through . I always drank plenty overnight ( if possible ) and had a sandwich / cup of soup etc during my break which could be anytime between 1 and 5:30 . When I got home I dropped dc at school , walked the dog and had breakfast aiming to be in bed by 9:30 ish and got up between 1 and 2 . I then walked dog , picked dc up , did tea etc and then back to work and so forth . It completely messed up my body clock and even now that I haven’t actually worked for 4/5 years I rarely sleep before 1/2 am and have a maximum of 5/6 hours sleep .