going to start working nights, what is the best way to recover?

Question

will work till 3am 3 days a week, have to children one at school 9am till 3pm & youngest at school 9am till 11am.
What can i do to stay refreshed at work (i will be taking emergency 999 calls & dispatching the ambulances) and is ther any vitamins or such that i can take to help me through the day time or anything else i can do as catch up sleep is not going to be an option.
What do you do for your night shifts?

I'm not asking if i can cope, i'm asking if there is anything extra i should be doing to help the transfer from days to nights easier.
I'm doing nights because both daughters will be in school & day care is to expensive for both children so nights is the only option as we rely on the money - youngest was in work related funding which stops when she starts school hence more money and I have being taking 999 calls for 7years & could do them in my sleep (not a good idea though hence the question !!!!)

Answer 1

I believe a positive attitude is the best way to get through situations like this. If you want to survive, and want to make the best life for your children you will find the energy to deal with it. Once you find a routine that works for you stick to it and that will make it easier to go through.
Remember to take many naps to make up for the fact that you can't take 7-9 hour sleeps. Also, you have to eat healthy food to give yourself the energy you need and avoid unnecessary sugars, and items containing caffeine. These items will help short term but create long term problems.
Keep light weights, even two water bottles at your desk and use them as arm exercises when you feel tired. This will enhance your arms, keep blood flowing, and wake you up!!!
Lastly, try to have the kids help with anything they can. Whether it's preportioning cereal as snacks for lunch/after school or if it's simply letting them know not to wake you up for your nap hour.
Good Luck, and remember it's all for the kids!

Answer 2

I've worked nights for over 20 years and I started doing it for a reason similar to yours - we didn't have daycare as an option for us. For us it worked out great because I got home around 7AM every day just in time to get the kids up, fed, and off to school. Then I slept while they were at school and got up around 2:30 PM in time to pick them up. For them it was like I never worked at all.

It would have been a lot harder getting off work at 3AM like you said you will be though. Is there any way you could get your work schedule changed even a few hours to get you more sack time?

Honestly with your schedule split up the way it is with their school schedule I couldn't do it. But I'll tell you the single biggest thing that helped me most is that I kept my nocturnal schedule even on my nights off. Switching back and forth was just too much for me. Now after all these years it's natural for me.

Nothing takes the place of sleep, no pills will do your body good, the best thing would be to try to figure out a sleep schedule you can deal with.

Answer 3

Try and get an hour while your children are at school! Failing that then healthfood shops sell guarana - its like herbal pro-plus. This should help you stay alert but the only real answer is to try and sleep whenever you can - even if its only for 10 mins at a time otherwise you could damage your health in the longer term.

Answer 4

I work permanent weekend nights what i do is try to have an hours sleep before i go to work. And when i get home i usually take a yeast vite tablet and drink strong coffee. Other than that try and win the lottery and retire " I WISH"....All the best in your job

Answer 5

i work twelve and half hour nights i try to get an hour before going to work and then couple of hours in the day go to bed early the night u finished ur shift to catch up on sleep drink plenty of coffee and pro plus to keep u awake while at work good luck

Answer 6

stay off all the stying awake stuff,all they do is delay the need for sleep for a while then it catches up with you big time.
when on nights get sleep when you canbut avoid the ten or fifteen minute kips,they make you feel worse when you wake up.

Answer 7

why do you have to work nights...dont you think you would be better working days...especially with children....and if your taking 999calls....i dont think it is a good idea at all.....you know you are not going to be able to cope...otherwise you would,nt be asking ....