Help! I work the night shift. I have for 4 months. I can't seem to get more than 5 hours of sleep at a time and that's on a good day. Most times I get two 2-3 hour naps in. I'm exhausted! Any sugestions? Besides getting another job. I make good money and vacation days. Just staying put until a day shift opens up, if ever.
2007-12-11 21:10:14 · 13 answers · asked by SonoranAngel 6 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I do take Tylenol PM
2007-12-11 21:11:37 · update #1
Tylonal Pm wears off after 4 or 5 hrs. If you have the money, go to a doctor and ask for a 14 day supply of a sleep aid. Thats not long enough to get hooked but it is just long enough to get your body adjusted to your new shift. Working 2nd shift for 4 yrs now, I've had to do it twice. Sometimes the body just wants to revert to what it knows as normal. Awake with the sun. Ambien and Lunesta are both good, they will help you get 7 to 8 hrs sleep. Your body needs a new routine to be set and it will take going to sleep at the same time each day if you can and getting up at the same time each day.
If you wake up, don't get out of bed (unless you have to pee). Attempt to stay in bed as best you can until your body adjusts. Changing from days to nights is hard but you can do it. One more thing. A doctor told me once to blacken my bedroom. He said to make it as dark as possible so that my body "thinks" its dark outside. He said if you can confuse your body into thinking its night, you will sleep easier. Buy a cheap sleep mask from Walmart. They do wonders.
If you have a bath and body works near you or if you can shop it online, buy their sleep spray. Lavender and Vanilla is what its called. When I start having trouble sleeping and don't want to take anything, I spray it on my pillows. It helps alot more than you would think.
2007-12-11 21:17:06 · answer #1 · answered by alwaysmyself 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sonoran,
Be sure your bosses know you intend to move to the day shift. There are a lot of negatives about the night shift -even when you adjust and begin sleeping more. If a slot doesn't open up within a year or two, move on to a day shift elsewhere. It's not worth the money. Working during the night is also an indicator of some cancers. There is a lot of research being done about sleep and night workers.
I worked an on-call job for 18 years. It is so destructive to your health. You even lose your skills for the work. Don't stay with it long. It doesn't look good on your resume when you accept the poor conditions for long. They start thinking there must be something wrong with you because you had to stay there too long.
Be sure your use of sleep aids is limited, too. Good luck.
2007-12-11 21:39:06 · answer #2 · answered by Jeanne B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to change your time. If not possible, then try to get a sound sleep during the day. I have been working night shifts since 1 year and now I got used to it. I can't sleep during the nights! In the beginning, it'll be a little trouble for you but once you adjust your time-table, you'll eventually get used to it.
2007-12-11 21:14:30 · answer #3 · answered by Chain Gang Soldier 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been working nights for two years. I have the same problem. I've tried everything. I've just come to accept that you're body isn't meant to be up all night and asleep at day. And you can't fool it. But, I did see a doctor that said he'd put on welding goggles before he went outside, because it's the sun that tell your body it's daytime which resets your internal clock and keeps you from staying asleep during the day.
2007-12-11 21:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to alternate shifts and had the same problems.
Going home at 7am and it was light was really hard, then I just had to change my way of thinking. Remove it from your head that it's daylight. Go home, have a beer or two, wander around for a bit and go to bed a couple of hours after you get in.I found that worked for me. It was just removing the idea from my mind that it was morning and I should be up.
I used to go to bed about 11am, sleep till 5:30pm, get up, take a shower, have breakfast and then wander into work for 7pm.
2007-12-11 21:14:54 · answer #5 · answered by Rocknrollrich 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have decorated my house a little more to induce sleep....that is I chose a feature wall in every room that I would usually sleep in (living rooms, bedrooms) and painted them a chocolate brown....it darkens the house somewhat and I now sleep a lot better than I did before when the rooms were cream.
2007-12-11 21:23:56 · answer #6 · answered by jasmine d 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Room darkening blinds, air conditioner in summer. Switch to unisom. I worked the night shift for eight years and was always tired. These seemed to work the best for me.
Good luck
2007-12-11 22:00:54 · answer #7 · answered by larry k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take valarian and it helps me sleep better during the day. I make my room as dark as possible and sleep with a fan on for some white noise. I don't sleep as many hours but sleep better deeper sleep, so i do wake up feeling rested.
2007-12-11 21:26:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to our pain. Most of us have your sleeping patterns. The only way I found to get 8 hours was to stay up until 1:00 p.m. everyday and then go to bed. No matter what and stay there. It took about two weeks but then I was able to sleep everyday from 1 to 9 p.m.!
2007-12-11 21:20:30 · answer #9 · answered by dallas 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. I've been doing the night shift for 7 months and its gotten no better.
2007-12-11 21:13:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋