2007-04-10 16:40:15 · 15 answers · asked by wednesday's child 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
My husband has worked the night shift for 30 years. We raised kids, went to ball games, all the normal stuff parents are expected to do. Our home time was just different than other people's.
He eats supper in the morning and then watches TV for an hour or so. When he gets relaxed, then he goes to bed. We have a room darkening shade in our bedroom. If he feels the need, he wears a sleep mask. Strangely, he will sleep better if I lay down with him. It makes him feel everyone is on the same schedule and there is not a lot of activity going on in the house while he is getting to sleep.
Some days he sleeps good and others he wakes up two or three times. He doesn't let it bother him. He just stays up for a while and then goes back to sleep. Trying to set aside 8 hours for sleep and sticking to it just wont work. You have to remain flexible with it and sleep when you need to and wake up for a bit when you need to.
Basically I ran the house during the day so he didn't have 'jobs' to do. His job was to get as much rest as he could. Night shift work is bad enough without trying to work during the day too. Just don't get stressed if you have to stay awake for a while in the morning and sleep later in the evening. It's just what you have to do.
Family support is crucial. Family can't make demands on you.
It can work. People have trouble sleeping at night too. Just don't place the blame on night work instead of normal sleeplessness and you will avoid the anxiety of not being able to sleep on command.
2007-04-10 17:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by momwithabat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked the night shift as a nurse for a while, and have a terrible sleep problem. I would take a sleep aid as soon as I got home on the nights that I had to work back to back so that I would get enough sleep to carry me through. On the days that I didn't have to work I would try to maintain a normal sleep pattern. Good luck---it's not easy!
2007-04-10 16:44:43 · answer #2 · answered by shmendy429 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there, done that, and it sucks!
When you get home, read the paper, maybe take a walk, do some housework, whatever, for about 2 hrs. Eat breakfast.
Then, make the room as dark and as quiet as possible. The light didn't bother me, but when the neighbor turned on the lawn mower, i wanted to kill him! Try to get 7-9 hrs sleep. You can eat dinner when you wakeup.
Take the phone out of your room, or, turn it down. . Nothing like the phone ringing just as you are about to zonk out. Tell your kids to be quiet.
Working nights does have its' advamtages, but it can screw up your sleep patterns.
if it is a REAL problem, consult asleep specialist. Might set you back $ 200.00, but they will help you get the most out of your sleep.
Good luck!
2007-04-10 17:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by TedEx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can take the supplement "melatonin" It is naturally produced in the brain to make you sleep. Taking more of it as a supplement when you are trying to go to sleep with cause you to get drowsy.
Also hang black or very dark curtains and where ear plugs. My dad did this when he worked nights. If people come by often while you are trying to sleep ( i.e. mail main, girl scouts etc.) hang a sign that says quite day sleeper outside your door
2007-04-10 16:44:53 · answer #4 · answered by CookFrNW 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when I worked 3rd shift the first thing I would do when I got home was eat something light , start a load of laundry and when it was full stop it pick out my clothes for the evening then take a 30 minute HOT bubble bath with some relaxing lavendar bubbles, get in clothes my eyes and soak, get out, start the washer again and head for bed...I always made sure my morning routine was the same and made sure I was in bed at the same time wether I laid there for 10 minutes or 1 hour at least I was relaxing my body...good luck
2007-04-10 16:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by Tazzy375 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to excercise in the morning when you wake up....doing it at night can keep you awake.
Don't drink any caffeine drinks except for right before you go to work.
Use curtains that completely block daylight out of your room.
You must have complete darkness to sleep effectively.
Can you switch shifts? Late night shifts are hard on people.
2007-04-10 16:45:06 · answer #6 · answered by gg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to work nights. Don't try going to sleep right when you get home. If you work days you don't come home at 6pm and go right to bed, right?. You sit around, watch TV, eat, relax for a few hours THEN go to bed. Try staying up for awhile, even though you feel tired. And take care of yourself - night shift is hard.
2007-04-10 16:48:43 · answer #7 · answered by ptortuga 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about have a cool bath and good healthy breakfast. This might help you to sleep for few hours. Due the changes in body you are not able to sleep.
2007-04-10 16:45:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ear Plugs - Just try them!
If you can find the purple ones they are the BEST. I get them from Walgreens. They have done sleep wonders for me!
You get used to them. Make sure you put them in correctly!
Oh yeah and Sleepy Time Tea works great too!!
Good LUCK!
2007-04-10 16:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by henandshell1617 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh sure..i work nights..i get off, come home, take a shower, fix breakfast, watch some tv till about 11 or 12 than go to bed till about 7-8 pm..works like a charm for me..comes natural because when i get off i don't force my body to do anything so it just does what comes natural..on my days off..i am normal!..LOL
2007-04-11 00:04:45 · answer #10 · answered by nano 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋