Is it possible for me to achieve optimal sleep while still working overnight shifts??

Question

I work the overnight shift for 7 days in a row and then I get 7 days off. My sleep has been totally thrown off. I would like to be able to wake up refreshed everyday...but its been hard because Im sleeping during random times of the day and feeling groggy. Ive tried sleeping pills with no positive results. What am I going to do???

Answer 1

I'm not going to pretend that I know what it is like to do the 7 on 7 off schedule, but the transition from day to night is rough. I invested in those room darkening blinds ($10 at Walmart) and stole a pair of ear plugs from the factory I worked for. If you're in a factory, you probably agree that the industrial ear plugs are good enough that you don't hear the trash man outside, but weak enough that you can hear the alarm. The new blinds didn't make my room pitch black at night, but it helped. As far as switching the schedules, try to push yourself on Friday (or whatever your last work day is) to not go to sleep until anywhere from 8-10 that night. It'll wear you out enough that you won't be up before the crack of dawn. You'll also get enough sleep that you can enjoy the weekend "properly". Also, try to get on a sleep schedule as soon as possible. If you stick to the same schedule everyother week your body will get more used to it quicker. ie. don't stay up til noon one day and get in bed at 8 the next.

Answer 2

This probably is ur best option for a job?
See, if u have to live with it, the 1st thing to help u will be ur attitude.
Tell urself, "Yes, it is difficult, but I've done this for enough days, & now my body is totally tuned & prepared for it"
By overnight, do u mean a 10pm-6am shift, or do u mean u work 24 hrs for 7 days(that's inhuman, I don't think that is possible)
In my opinion, an overnight shift is actually better than a graveyard or swing shift, u don't have 2 start or leve work at midnight, & drive at midnight.
What u need 2 do is to develop a routine of ur comfort(as much comfort as possible) for the days of the overnight shift. Say, u sleep at 8 every morn & wake up at 1. Or whatever suits u best. Sert a routine & don't be random.
But u'll face more problems. with daily activities & socializing.
I'm sure u'll cope & adopt.
It might be more difficult if u r biologically a morning person.
Remember, like societal rules & fashion, it is also a man-made rule that man is dirunal.
Stone age hunters were not.

Answer 3

If you're lucky, after a few months or a year your body will get used to these hours and fall into a sleep pattern that you must carefully set each day. Through my own experience I've found that the only solution to the problem of getting enough sleep when you work shift work(as you do) is to: live in a neighborhood where everyone goes to work live or out in the country where there are fewer people, less traffic and thus less noise. Then you need to go to bed with an air conditioner or something else going to make a slight noise to keep small noises from reaching you. Good luck and happy dreams!

Answer 4

I have worked shift for many years. I am working tonight and am on night. I have never really got used to it. Try eating normally and sleeping when you get home. I exist on about 4-5 hours speep a day when on night shift. I seem to reach a zone and stay there no matter how many hours sleep I get. Try not to drink a lot of fluid during the night. I usually feel more tired after I wake then I am before I go to bed. Wake up feeking like crap. I come good when I get to work and need to do something. Sleeping pills have never done it for me either. Try sleeping when you get home from work. Have a shower and freshen up when you awake. Lay down in front of the tv and relax and if you doze off it is a bonus. The body will get the sleep it needs if you are tired enough.

Try to catch a nap at smoko too helps.

Answer 5

I can only give you personal experience of working overnights for 10 years. I never felt rested I was often irritated. Sometimes I would have to move to day shift to cover vacations. I would fall into the day rotation in 2 to 3 days and start feeling refreshed within a week. But when I moved back to nights it would be 6 weeks before it returned to what I felt was normal. Unless my family is starving or without a home I will not work nights again.

Answer 6

You have got to set some "awake time" priorities.Apparently you want the sleep. Put down the paper..turn off the tv or whatever it is that you are doing insted of sleeping. Come home from work..take a warm shower and get in to bed. Set your clock for a specific amount of sleep every day.Turn on some soft noise..like radio..if you are having trouble shutting off your mind. If you can't sleep just lay there..because you are still resting your body..that's what needs the rest the most..not your mind. You're just going to have to set a schedule and stick with it.

Answer 7

Your body is trying to regulate your "sleeping clock." You need to commit to sleeping the same schedule on your days off that you need on your work days. Since you work nights, you need to minimize your exposure to daylight right before you go to bed. When you come home from work, stay clear of fluorescent lights, darken the rooms you will be in, develop a "pre-sleep" routine that involves "winding down" not winding up with morning news shows or anything like that. If you know how many hours you normally need to sleep, aim for that number of hours (everyone has a natural sleep need--mine is 7.5 hours for optimal alertness--I don't always get that, but that is when I will normally wake up without an alarm clock).

If you don't commit to sleeping the same pattern even on your days off, your body will not adjust. Also your whole body (skin included) is light sensitive, so exposure to light will "wake you up" (as will even smelling certain foods--like coffee).

Answer 8

if you have a hard time sleeping during hte day, try drinking NyQuill, that always knocks me out in like 20 minutes and i ma 200 lbs

Answer 9

You need to stick to one shift if possible. Keep those hours on your days off.

Answer 10

"because black people are black people...they wont change...its a bit obnoxious" does this look famaliar? I hope you know how stupid you are for saying things like this about AN ENTIRE RACE OF PEOPPLE. you sure are a joker.