Working nights

Glaucus · 2 Feb 2018 at 18:24

explicit4u said:
, and make sure you get some sun to keep your vitamin D up.

Or take a supplement as even those not on shift work are very likely to be deffeicent in the UK.
But yes if you can avoid shift work/nights that's the best option.
White noise machine. Sad lamp, black out curtains etc.
And sod alarms on nights. One of the small benefits no stupid alarm needed.
Worst thing about shifts is the days. it's much harder to sleep and you have teh stupid alarm clock.
At least after a night shift it's easy to get to sleep and you can sleep as long as you want.

bingham67 · 2 Feb 2018 at 19:05

I do four days on four days off (two 12 hour day shifts then two 12 hours night shifts) for the last 8 years 31 now it hard to get use to at first but you do.

My best tip is just sleep to 1 or 2 in the afternoon and I tend to survive the night just fine.

It probably taken a toll on my body (though I like to keep relatively fit by running) but the four days off are nice plus instant 12 days off for one shift of work for me means I could never go back to 9-5 I love shift work in this regard.

Diddums · 2 Feb 2018 at 19:13

Find a new job. Only the devoted can survive night shifts in the long run but even they turn in to zombies eventually. It'll eat you slowly.

Spook187 · 2 Feb 2018 at 20:18

Yeah only hard men can do the night shifts, lol at the ones saying get another job :rolleyes:

Glaucus · 2 Feb 2018 at 20:36

Spook187 said:
Yeah only hard men can do the night shifts, lol at the ones saying get another job

It is the sensible thing to dom shift work and night work. Increases your risk of dozens of illnesses. Messes with your social life etc. And that's coming from someone who's been doing shift work since forever.
If you can it's best avoided, obviously that's not always possible.

tom_nieto · 2 Feb 2018 at 20:54

Not massively looking forward to going back to a full shift pattern in April, but needs must.

Where are you working @tres?

Copied from Dr House’s thread:

My plan for nights -
Don't try to adjust before your shifts by staying up late. Get a good night sleep and don't set an alarm on the first day. Boozing is a bad idea - starting nights hungover is the worst! Get up at your leisure and go to the gym and do some life admin tasks that you wouldn't get to do normally in the week. I don't usually find it helpful to nap before the shift. A proper dinner and relax before works just as well. Bring food in with you and make sure you eat it and stay well hydrated. Get to bed straight away after you get home.

Once the shifts start I always make sure I don't have any big plans or extra curricular work planned. Rotating between nights and days is hard enough.

The last day either stay up or sleep for a couple of hours to adjust back faster. Do something fun post nights.

Good luck!

marshallman05 · 3 Feb 2018 at 00:54

Uther said:
I spent most of my working life working 4 on 3 off 12 hour nightshifts (with one 30 minute break lol...) I never managed to sleep much during the day. It's a very unhealthy existence and you'll probably die earlier if you do it long term.

12 hour shifts with only a 30 minute break is illegal....

tres · 3 Feb 2018 at 01:01

tamzzy said:
wow. where do you work? i wanna join lol

We were scheduled for 3 1-9pm shifts in that week off which I got covered

explicit4u said:
Best advice I've received regarding night shifts is get out immediately!

No amount of money is worth it, unless you're doing it short term. I did nights for 3 years and never again, the money is fun at first but your social life and body will suffer no matter what you do.

Blackout curtains, no caffeine/supplements, no alarms on off days, try and keep to a regular eating plan, use night mode on any devices that have it, and make sure you get some sun to keep your vitamin D up.

I'll have done for the next 4 years. One or two stretches a month. No choice in this industry!

tres · 3 Feb 2018 at 01:02

tom_nieto said:
Not massively looking forward to going back to a full shift pattern in April, but needs must.

Where are you working @tres?

Copied from Dr House’s thread:

My plan for nights -
Don't try to adjust before your shifts by staying up late. Get a good night sleep and don't set an alarm on the first day. Boozing is a bad idea - starting nights hungover is the worst! Get up at your leisure and go to the gym and do some life admin tasks that you wouldn't get to do normally in the week. I don't usually find it helpful to nap before the shift. A proper dinner and relax before works just as well. Bring food in with you and make sure you eat it and stay well hydrated. Get to bed straight away after you get home.

Once the shifts start I always make sure I don't have any big plans or extra curricular work planned. Rotating between nights and days is hard enough.

The last day either stay up or sleep for a couple of hours to adjust back faster. Do something fun post nights.

Good luck!

Many thanks
A DGH in the north east