Anyone got any marvellous tips for coping with night shifts

[christmosschops30]

Am about to start my first run of nights (3 in a row) and just wondered if anyone had any fantastic ways of coping.

I have heard:
not to eat throughout the night
wear sunglasses when you go out of work in the morning

anything else?

oh i love nights

worked them for years

pro plus

lots of tea

can you nap on your break?

DO eat through the night or you will feel sick in the morning

go to bed as soon as you get in, set your alarm for about 3, get up, ahve what you would have for your tea before you go to work and take in fruit and plain biscuits to eat

no junk or carry outs

i will think of more

cup a soups good for through the night

take a jumper as you wil get cold cos you are tired

wil you be driving home? radio blaring and window down or you will fall asleep at the wheel. if you feel you are about to nod off get out of the car in a layby and walk round it a couple of times

ooh good idea, cup a soups, will try that.

Got some fruit, can pinch some plain biscuits on the ward.

No we cant sleep, we just get 1/2 hour break in 10.5 hour shift!!

only live 5 mins from work so no probs on falling asleep, i havent done nights for years and have that same feeling of dread I always did

if its quiet you may get longer. we used to help each other out on nights and give each other an hrs break, we used to make a little bed in the staff room and wake each other up after an hr

you could try and have a snooze this afternoon beofre your first shift, it works for some although i could never get to sleep myself

on the day after your last shift get up fairly early, like say 130pm, and go out and do something like walk to the shops ir round the park, otherwise you wnt get to sleep when you go to bed that night

the best bit is seeing everyone else just going to work and you are like "ha! im off to bed"

i'm going out the night after my last shift so will stay in bed all day and party all night

thats a fantastic idea!

I've recently started 2 nights. I love it the time seems to go quicker somehow and no boss hanging over my shoulder (she only works in the day).

I HAVE to eat at night otherwise I feel like shit

I'm just having problems with getting enough sleep in the day, so any tips on that would be great!!

I found the best way to get enough sleep was to go to bed as soon as i got home

i always woke at about 11am for a wee, but i just tried to go back to sleep straight after. if i felt wide awake i would have a cup of tea and watch telly for an hour, but then try to get back to sleep

i would get up at about 3pm and have a shower and something to eat

I have to take the kids to school after the first shift so I think thats why I'm having problems cos I'm not going straight to bed.

I remember my ex doing nights and I used to get my head bitten right of if he hadn't got enough sleep and he had to do jack all when he got in or got up -