Night Shifts

[JHolly]

so ive got the next few weeks of night shifts, wondering if many of you done it and how you cope? any little tricks?

[sloth]

Lots of coffee, and sleep when you can before the job. I used to try and keep busy through the next day and sleep the next night. Knocked me back to normal quicker when I was expected to do Friday and Saturday nights on the railway then back to days Monday.

[Ruskins Trees]

The police federation looked into this, the stats on life expectancy after working night shifts on retirement is shocking.

 

The best shift patterns are long periods of night shifts followed by a meaningful break before swapping to days. Short periods of night shifts are very bad for you.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Ruskins Trees
missed word

[JHolly]

well its only night for a few months then i am going to newzealand and hopfully wont be on nights then!!

and nights are worth it I recon for that little bit of extra cash, just wondering if any thing people do before trying to sleep through the day or just let your body adapt slowly??

[Cloud9climber]

Just get as much sleep as possible through the day! I quite enjoy them in a strange way, something different, just go to bed with your ear defenders on cause you will be able to hear everything if not

 

 

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[raker]

Try and keep your habbits the same.I had tea before going into work.breakfast when i got in(i`d wake up hungry at about 10 if i didnt anyway).Lunch when i woke up.I never took heaps of grub into work on nights.

Getting to sleep in the day.Its easy to overlook the fact that you might be too cold to get your head down and lie there tossing and turning.If you`re married or whatever, they are not there in the day so that bit of warmth is absent.I used to throw an extra quilt over the bed or use one of those electric blankets that run on tickover.Slept like a log most of the time.

Unplug the phone.If you dont have double glazing or live on a busy street, stuff some foam plugs in your ears.Use thick, dark curtains.

When you finish your last night, stay up.Keep yourself busy during the day, get some beers in for the evening, and let yourself fall asleep on the sofa.Gets you back into a normal sleep pattern again.

[nepia]

The best shift patterns are long periods of night shifts followed by a meaningful break before swapping to days. Short periods of night shifts are very bad for you.

 

 

I used to work 7 Nights and by the 6th night was just getting used to it when shifts changed - ugh.

If you haven't done Nights before it'll take a bit if getting used to but hopefully you're doing a decent run of them which, as per above, are better for you and easier to live with, than two or three.

 

As for what Nights do to your guts.... we'll leave that one there!

[Tucky]

Also a good idea to have a back up packet of pro plus in your bag. Be disciplined and don't take them unless you really have to but some nights (especially If you've not slept well) 3am will hit you like a train.

Cheers Tucky

[stumpbuster]

soon as u get in try get ur head down up about 11 or 12 keep busy about 67 get ur head down couple hours before going to work plenty coffe

[JHolly]

Thanks for all the adivice!! its night 1 tonight! stayed up as late as I could last night and then slept in till 10 and managed to then kip mid afternoon! feeling good about it and hopfully can sleep in tomorrow a bit later than 10!!!