Advice for coping with shift patterns

[Janaih]

DH works a continental shift pattern, so a combination of day and night shifts 12 hours.
He's young ish fit and healthy but increasingly these shifts seem to be taking a toll. Obviously the sleep that he gets on night shifts is not optimum quality.

I just wondered if anyone had any tips please on sleep management or supplements that might help. Ta.

My partner works 12 hour shifts alternating days and nights for 4 days with 4 off in between to switch his body clock over, we purchased black out curtains for the bedroom to keep it as dark as possible during the day to improve sleep, other than that I'd suggest some melatonin supplements to help your partner sleep. You could also try some mild sleeping tablets although if your partner works with machinery this may not be the best idea. If he's recently started working those shifts it can take a while to adjust. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

I work a hideous shift pattern of either very early starts, very late nights or night shifts! Tbh you get used to it after a while. Get blackout blinds, earplugs, and a facemask. And he will have to accept he will be tired at times. I can lie in bed all day after a night shift and only sleep for 5 hours so at some point I cut my losses and get on with my day. I've never used any supplements. Good luck to him!

Thanks both. He's been doing it 9 years and for the past year has drastically reduced hours due to no overtime because of covid. So in theory should be less tired. Maybe anxiety about job security is affecting his sleep.