Tips for starting night shift

[sleepythedwarf]

Have just got a new job doing night shifts in a care home. I'm really looking forward to it but am such a big sleeper I'm worried about how I might cope.
I'm working around Dh's shifts so will always be able to go to bed once I'm finished shift but may have to go to work some nights without getting a nap beforehand (if I even managed to nap) so will be awake for 24 hours+ sometimes.
I'm such a sleep lover and usually go to sleep around 11-7 with extra sleep at weekends so this will be a shock to me.
Does anyone have any tips? Obviously coffee but I sometimes feel like drinking coffee when tired makes me feel drunk.

How many nights in a row? Presumably they give you work to keep you occupied, they aren't sleep ins, so to speak?

After a night shift - go home watch a hr or 2 tv and have a massive plate of food with only juice (no coke/ tea / coffee). Then you are more likely to sleep.

plus lots of sweets at around 3/4/5 am when you feel sick with tiredness ….. that help me feel a bit less sick.

carry a fleece in your bag - I always used to get cold on night shift.

It used to take me 3 nights to be able to sleep in the day 4/5 hrs - I was never a lover of night shifts but some people prefer it

good luck

Plenty of water throughout the night and keep to a normal food routine. Depends on your shift pattern but the day I finish nts I try to only have a couple of hours sleep and then sleep as normal at nt.
Nts can also upset your stomach so peppermint tea for gas/bloating.

Thank you for the tips so far. I've got the night routine and it seems to be a few hours of work then around an hour down time (but obviously no sleeping in the home) before starting over again. I think it will be the down time followed by the busy period that will be the killer and I'm hoping to try and keep busy even if it means doing skirtings etc 🙈 my first few weeks are only two night shifts a few days apart so hopefully that'll ease me in.

Thermal underwear under your uniform as you are likely to get cold.

Walk around if you happen to get a quiet night (rare, but it can happen) and take things to do that aren't reading / using a screen.

Take snacks to keep your blood sugar regulated. Not too much sugar though, I'd take some protein or slow release carbs then have something carby before you go to bed and add an extra blanket to keep you warm.

Finally - take some chewing gum or a toothbrush. Having a fresh mouth makes a big difference.

I used to take a couple of sachets of nice hot drinks like the vanilla latte or mocha ones, and have these a couple of times during the night. I would take some snacks but not sweets as this would make my blood sugar crash and make me feel horrible.

I also took a fleece to wear. When I got home I'd have a bath and a marmite and cheese toastie then get some sleep.

Guard you sleep time during the day like you would defend your kids if they were under attack. Going 24 hours without sleep is asking for disaster to strike. The least it will do is make you feel very unwell.
be aware that many people will forget you do need to sleep, or will think you are lazy for daytime sleeping. Many do not get that you have the same sleep needs - just flipped around the clock a bit.

I used to do 7pm to 7 am 5 days a week ex hubby was on days

came home , done the school runs , nursery run , was lucky if I got an hours kip before nursery run again 🤪 then it was time for general mum duty’s homework & dinner routines before work again , with feck all help from the ex , he wondered why I slepted so much on my day off

only tip I can give is layer up , take plenty of water & low calorie snacks to keep going