Nightshift advice!

[ChloeW94]

Thanks so much guys!

It’s going to be a big change! I’ve gone from working on a reception desk 8am-5pm Monday to Friday then got put on furlough last May until October where I was told I was at risk of redundancy, but got a place doing security which is shift work but couldn’t do nightshift as my first aid had ran out and due to covid it wasn’t easy to renew it but that’s happening next month. I just keep reminding myself I am very lucky to still have a job, that’s 5 mins away from home and the job I don’t actually mind at all and like the people I work with. I know just now so many people are not as fortunate!

 

[Koakes]

I've worked nightshifts for the last 4 years as a home care nurse. For myself I go to bed at 8:30am and wake up between 4-5pm, I also found its so much easier on my body if I stay in the same routine on my days off as I do suffer sometimes with insomnia.

Getting up and moving and even just doing stretches help me immensely between 3-5 am when I tend to get sleepy.

And food I take more snacky things but I tend to be a snacker as opposed to a meal person

 

[lime]

I did night shifts for 3 years in a desk job. 4 shifts a week, 8pm-6am. From 8 until about 1am there'd be plenty of work to do then I would start to crash from 2-6 because there was rarely any work so you'd be watching Netflix or even napping on the sofas in the designated lounge areas which makes me laugh looking back. Sounds very relaxed doesn't it but actually when it's the middle of the night and you're knackered in a brightly lit office and all you want is your bed it was hell at times. I only agreed to do it because it worked out about £200 a month extra in my pay after tax which I needed at the time.

As for advice... honestly it's very difficult to have any sort of "normal" routine working like that. I'm being very negative, I didn't hate it, actually I enjoyed the laid back way of life, living as a night owl away from the rat race and enjoying my 3 days off (Sat, Sun Mon). But I think it's something you can do once for a temporary period and never again. I would sleep from about 8am until 3-4.30pm (and tell myself every day that I would get up earlier but never did). I'd have about 2 hours before needing to start my commute into work. I wouldn't be ready for a big meal so I'd end up eating at about 10pm in work (usually Ubereats). Meal prepping and taking your own dinner would be good advice I guess, but eating pattern on those shifts is so temperamental. A lot of the time I felt very lazy and part of the team environment was us ordering our food together so I got sucked into that.

I have fond memories of my nightshift days but you couldn't pay me to go back to that pattern. I think honestly a lot of it is accepting that it's not natural to do those shifts and to be easy on yourself if you're not in some perfect eating and sleeping routine.

 

[LittleMy]

I’ve worked nightshift for almost a year now (was always day shift) and still struggle with day sleeping. I work in a busy dementia unit as a care assistant, we don’t get many opportunities to sit and use tablets, watch movies, read books etc as the workload is constant and I prefer to be busy anyway as the shift goes faster, but I guess those things would be useful if your job does involves sitting around a fair bit because it would keep you distracted enough not to fall asleep. I usually Tattle when I get a break, so you will likely see me around here if you’re up in the night.

I really struggled the first time I did n/s. I was even physically sick once. I’m now a lot more used to it although I think it’s having an effect on my general health (menstrual cycle in particular). I’ve read that can happen, something to do with changes in the body’s circadian rhythms.

These are some of the things I find essential for getting through the night shift.

1) Blackout blinds/curtains, earplugs and a good eye mask are essential for day sleeping.

2) Drink lots of water to keep hydrated. Aside from the odd cup of tea, that’s all I drink on a shift.

3) I eat a meal before my shift, so dinner as usual, and then bring some snacky bits for during the night to keep my energy up.

I often finish a shift and feel like I could devour a big meal as it feels like dinner time, but still just have usual breakfast (cereal, toast etc) as I try to keep my routine as normal as possible so that it’s not all over the shop on days off and I don’t end up piling on more weight.

 

[Girlinabubble]

Due to Covid my job role and shifts have changed and I’ll now be doing nightshift starting in a months time! I’ve never done a nightshift in my life and rather nervous about it.

What’s you guys advice on sleeping, eating/what food to take etc? It’ll be a boring 12 hour shift so going to take my iPad with me and had the idea (and wishful thinking that I can be arsed!) of taking some gym gear and doing a wee workout sometimes to stay active.

Any tips would be so appreciated!

I did runs of three nights together for a few years - I think it’s ok for some people and for some it’s awful - my job was still fairly busy at night - it’s a hospice. I never got used to it but it was made more bearable if whenever I woke the day after I stayed in bed reading and dozing for a few hours more. I tried to stick to day mealtimes so had breakfast when I got home - usually skipped lunch then had a light meal before work. I used to eat sweet stuff during the shift because I felt sorry for myself! I think you just have to grit your teeth and get through it. One thing though - I had to be very careful driving home after as my reactions and perceptions definitely affected. Good luck - looking back the thought of them was worse than the reality hit still so grateful I no longer work nights!

I always try to have a nap mid afternoon before my night shift. Then after unless I'm back in that night I will try and only have a nap the next day so I can sleep at night. You will get the munchies, so take snacks. I try to eat my dinner before my shift, then have breakfast when I get in otherwise I wake up famished and eat crap.

You will also get mildly hysterical an hour before the end of your shift when things are hilarious, and the satisfaction of driving home to your bed when everyone se is driving to work is the best thing ever.

So true about the hysteria and driving home!