Working night shift

[Perrin Aybara]

I just started a new job this week. The pay is great and it's pretty easy work, it's just night shift with no possibility of going to days. It's my first week and I'm sure it'll get better over time, but I'm really struggling to stay asleep so far. I switched over to the new schedule over the weekend and even though I fall asleep easily I just can't sleep past about 11am. I didn't even get home till 6:30am this morning. Anybody got any experience with ways to get used to this?

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Also already blacked out my bedroom windows, got a weighted blanket and sleep noise machine. Taking melatonin and magnesium before bed. Having my girlfriend pick up some benadryl and maybe tylenol PM or something after work for me.

 

[juicy122]

I used to rotate every 2 weeks after 1 week my sleep would get used to it. I believe your internal brain clock will fix it self after a week or so. I remember when I had rotating shifts first couple days no matter how tired or sleepy I was when I came home I'd always wake up 3 or 4 hours later and not sleep again. Then as days go on I started to get about 7 hours

 

[Oldschool]

You will adjust after a week or so. It sucks I know but you are through the worst off it. Gets better every day. Congratulations on the work.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I used to rotate every 2 weeks after 1 week my sleep would get used to it. I believe your internal brain clock will fix it self after a week or so. I remember when I had rotating shifts first couple days no matter how tired or sleepy I was when I came home I'd always wake up 3 or 4 hours later and not sleep again. Then as days go on I started to get about 7 hours

My shift will be consistent luckily. I figured over time I'd adjust. I just feel horrible right now and I really need to be alert as it's a truck driving job.

You will adjust after a week or so. It sucks I know but you are through the worst off it. Gets better every day. Congratulations on the work.

Thanks. I'm making about double what I made on my last job. Just gotta figure out the sleep thing.

 

[Btcowboy]

You will adjust, I did it for over 2 yrs. The body and mind will switch over eventually. I never did the blacked out room or took much more than melatonin every once in a while. Benadryl works too but if I dont fall asleepn right away I am twitchy and awake for ever.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

You will adjust, I did it for over 2 yrs. The body and mind will switch over eventually. I never did the blacked out room or took much more than melatonin every once in a while. Benadryl works too but if I dont fall asleepn right away I am twitchy and awake for ever.

I've never really taken benadryl much, but gonna try it tonight. I fall asleep easily, just can't stay asleep. Looking into time released melatonin too.

 

[Jjay]

You'll come to a point that the light doesnt keep you up. You'll be able to fall asleep with the curtains open. And you'll get much better sleep. It's much harder for your body to readjust to a sleep schedule that's the opposite of what it needs

 

[DrinkFlintWater]

I've done night shift in a warehouse over the winter months as my business is seasonal. I slept in my basement with everything off, except for a loud buzzing fan to put me to sleep. Know matter how much sleep I got tho, it was never enough. Days off were the best...as I couldn't break the cycle...good luck finding a barbershop at 3am lol I tried.

Also, my weight and GI tract got severely off balanced. I would essentially eat dinner at 545 am then lay down...no good

 

[Btcowboy]

Also, my weight and GI tract got severely off balanced. I would essentially eat dinner at 545 am then lay down...no good

Yeah when i was on straight nights I would eat at work a couple hours before going home to bed. Straight to bed from work too, up at 1 or 2 in the afternoon to do what I needed to do and to work at 6pm

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I'm eating on the same schedule, just different hours. Instead of five meals between 6am and 6pm I'm having five meals between 2pm and 2am. I'm trying to keep everything the same setup wise except working out before work instead of after.

 

[Freakmidd]

You've probably been on a day shift schedule most of your life so it's a hard adjustment.. but like others have said, you will get better at it over time. When working shifts I found it was easier for me personally to treat them all like day shift.. so I'd come home after nights and stay awake just as I would on days.. then sleep until a couple hours before work, get up and go.. this way I don't get tired through my shift and have to struggle though the night. Of course that doesn't always work with a family but over time you'll figure what works for you.

 

[puckhog]

I just started a new job this week. The pay is great and it's pretty easy work, it's just night shift with no possibility of going to days. It's my first week and I'm sure it'll get better over time, but I'm really struggling to stay asleep so far. I switched over to the new schedule over the weekend and even though I fall asleep easily I just can't sleep past about 11am. I didn't even get home till 6:30am this morning. Anybody got any experience with ways to get used to this?

I worked 3rds for about 3.5 years. I loved the atmosphere of graveyard shift. It took me about 2 months to adapt to sleeping during the day.

Blackout curtains were a game changer.
Have you tried to stay up for several hours after work and then sleep later in the day?
I would hit the gym in the AM right after work.
The hardest part for me was flipping back to a normal schedule on the weekends for family time.
Good luck finding your routine Perrin.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I figured gym before work would be better because I'd have more energy. Normally on weekends I'd lift right after I got up and I prefer that. I'm not married and no kids, so I can stay on this schedule full time. Treating it like day shift would be more like normal, but I just hate gym after work.

 

[MindlessWork]

I worked graveyard shift (11pm-7:30am) for several years as data center operations shift leader at a bank and then at a major manufacturer in the early to late 90s and it took me several weeks to get used to it. I'd eat dinner when I woke up at 10pm then a snack mid-shift (at 4AM) then breakfast when I got home at 8:15am. Headed out to gym at 10am-12:30pm and I was in bed by 1:30pm. Wash rinse repeat.

Bought room darkening blinds to darken the room to help me sleep.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I am used to lifting after work. My last job was at a moving company, so it was pretty hard physical work. I don't know, I may try that if this doesn't work.

 

[MindlessWork]

I figured gym before work would be better because I'd have more energy. Normally on weekends I'd lift right after I got up and I prefer that. I'm not married and no kids, so I can stay on this schedule full time. Treating it like day shift would be more like normal, but I just hate gym after work.

That's what I generally did was to go to the gym before I went to bed.

 

[Jjay]

I got right after I wake up. Wake up 130 before I get there. Immediately eat, let it sit and digest for an hour and then workout.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I got right after I wake up. Wake up 130 before I get there. Immediately eat, let it sit and digest for an hour and then workout.

.
That's about what I normally did on weekends or days off. Get up about 7:00am or so and workout an hour later. I really prefer working out before doing anything else if possible.

 

[Jjay]

.
That's about what I normally did on weekends or days off. Get up about 7:00am or so and workout an hour later. I really prefer working out before doing anything else if possible.

Agreed. Of course there are days I'll wait like half a day but it doesnt matter to me which it is. But working after work sounds like I wouldnt be able to go as hard as I would want