Night shifts

[sheard]

I got a job as a care assistant and I have to so a night shift one per week advice please I was thinking to sleep few hours afternoon before shift then not sleep more than few hours morning after so I'm tired and aleep normal next night

[Stripes100]

I go to bed from about 3-5.30pm prior to a night shift. The next day if I don’t have another night shift I get up between 12-2pm depending how well I sleep and I always sleep normally that night

[Frequency]

I tend not to sleep before a night shift. I find it impossible to nap unless I'm shattered. If It's possible i.e I don't have work/interviews/errands etc that day I will try to have late night and a lay in.

After a night shift I go to bed at around 11 and get up between 3:30 and 4pm and back to bed again between 12am and 2am depending on my shift the next day if I have one.

[bloodywhitecat]

I used to not be able to sleep in the day before a night shift, if I was doing a one off night I would grab a couple of hours sleep that morning then be up by 11 at the latest so I could get back into the swing of day shifts.

[sheard]

Thanks advice appreciated

[savingshoes]

Depending on the neighbours lawnmower/DIY projects, car alarms and all other noise pollution, I aim to sleep about midday until dinner time before a shift and then sleep from about 10am until dinner time after the shift. It doesn't always work out the way I plan. I have a colleagues that cat nap between school runs and housework so everyone's different.

[Kitty1184]

Long time shift worker here - it definitely depends what's best for you and how much sleep you actually need!

If I'm on back to back nights I'll go home, have some breakfast and pootle for a couple of hours then try to get a solid 7 ish hours kip. If I'm nights onto a day off I'll go straight to bed for about 4 hours to try to make the most of the day.

I work with people who live off 3 hours sleep on nights - I definitely couldn't!

make sure to take lots of healthy snacks with you, nightshifts make you binge!