Page 1 of Starting night shifts - any advice?

Since I started working with a new security firm last month I`ve been lucky enough to be doing daytime shifts up until last week, when I had my first overnighter.

Treated the day as normal, got up a little later and tried to avoid anything strenuous, did a few bits and pieces then to work at 8pm. Occasional cups of coffee and a 60" plasma screen with freeview meant I was fine up until 2am when I felt a bit yawney, but it soon passed. Then 6am came and I practically passed out at the front desk - had to walk about, splash cold water on face and neck, go out for blast of fresh air etc. By 7 I was fine as staff started to arrive, home at 8am and simply couldn`t sleep, despite being exhausted. Brain kept pointing out it was daytime, daylight kept creeping into the bedroom and I got 3 hours sleep if I was lucky. The rest of that day was basically a nightmare, couldn`t concentrate, sort of in limbo.

Mercifully that was just a one off and I slept like a baby that night, but next week I have a 10 day run of them and I`m a little panicked that I`ll fall asleep on the job or the insomnia will be even worse - anyone do nights and can recommend a course of action?

I only ever appear to sleep from 6.30am till about 11.30am each day when on nights!
Then catch up at weekend on sleep! (:¦



I Cant Do Magic

advice> lots and lots of coffe ^^

The first night of a run of night working is usually the worst followed by the trying to sleep during the day part I had THO (her friends in for coffee) & a baby Numbnutz doing the level best to keep quiet ie not very well. You soon get used to it.

I worked SMTWT 10pm - 8am MTWTF about 10 years ago, the real mindf*** was Friday & Saturday night, THO would go to bed & I was still wide wake at 3am Saturday, feeling sleepy 2am Sunday & back to being dead on my feet 1am Monday at work.

Best thing I can say is go to bed as soon as you want to on your return to home, unplug the phone, switch off your mobile, draw the curtains as tight as possible & sign on door saying nightshift worker DO NOT DISTURB, AS HEAD REMOVAL OFTEN OFFENDS.


I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 6th June 2006, 09:09

having spent most of my adult life doing shift work, a helluva lot of night shifts, I can offer a few ppieces of advice.

1) If you can get a sheet of cardboard the same size as your bedroom windows and places a spare pair of curtains over the sheet. Push the cardboard/curtains in to the window recess (Curtains towards the window gives the impression they are simply shut) and then close the rooms curtains. If there are any wee gaps where the light shines through then place or adjust the curtains to block the light .

2) If you start at 22:00 then get to bed after a light tea, round about 16:00 and then get off to bed. I used to get up at about 20:30 for my 22:00 start

3) When you get home go to bed and get up at about four hours later, set the alarm, and then do what you want. This way you will be a wee bit tired at tea time and should get off to sleep reasonably easily.

4) If you have a wee radio then put it on Classic FM and turn the volume down until you can just hear it. This makes a big difference and helped me get off to sleep.

Thats about all I can think of at the moment mate. :)

Choagy FFCUK The SPL :)

I find sleeping a nightmare on nightshift, especially during the summer when it`s warm or, *shudder*, humid. I haven`t worked a nightshift since last summer, but basically I used to go out for a run when I got back (no more than 30 minutes), quick shower, light snack and off to bed.

Try not to eat too much after midnight on your shift, as this can alter your body clock. Stick to some light snacks, say a small bag of carrots or something or a piece of fruit. Drink plenty of water. I`d advise giving up caffine (not at all at once, but slowly decrease your intake over 3-4 months and you`ll never notice a difference). Eat healthy foods, stay away from junk-food. Eat plenty of meat for iron and protein (unless you`re vegetarian) and drink plenty of water. This may sound silly, but believe me you have no idea how much more energy you can have by cutting out junk food and eating healthy foods. Increased exercise gives you more stamina and allows you to stay awake when you NEED to, but it also allows you to fall asleep easier.

Of course, you maybe already do all that.

Oh, and pin a thick black bin bag over your window, it keeps light out really well (I do this when filming interior night scenes during the day, works a treat :D ).

Get one of those masks instead of messing about with cardboard cutouts. Oh and some earplugs. After the first night shift you`ll be fine...

Did night shift for 7 years solid :( My only advice is don`t do it, i love working regular days now, i eat and sleep a lot better and i feel much better in myself and find i am less moody and snappy, i also sleep a lot better :D

as a regular shift worker...

the trick for me any way is, on the day of the first night, just get up as normal and work right through... thus ensuring a reasonable sleep during the next day...

and after the last night only go to bed for thre/four hours after finishing otherwise you wont sleep properly that night?

as for the coffee thing, well if it works for you go for it, but remember it may affect you sleep pattern when you get to bed... not because of the caffeine, but because you need to get up for a P1$$ every ten minutes! ;)



`i am going to live forever or die trying`

This item was edited on Tuesday, 6th June 2006, 11:17

I have been doing nights for five years and love it.
The coffee /coke will also keep you awake when you go to
bed if you have it too close to when you go to bed.
Ear plugs work a treat.
Like most things it`s hard at first but gets easier.