How To Survive Night Shifts 

as a night shifter , I would say don't be too hard on yourself the 1st nights . you will be sleepy , maybe feel nauseous. don't forget to drink water . eat a light lunch around 3, your breakfast 1 hour before bed and dinner when you wake up

As a night shifter, blackout curtains are especially good. They block out a little noise while also making the room you are in dark so you can sleep easier.

I want to quit. I'm exhausted ....I'm constantly feeling anxious and overwhelmed.....yesterday my entire body was shaking and I ended up throwing up

I’m 30… wife.. & mom to a toddler. Just started my career as a nurse and I’m put on night shifts. I’m excited yet nervous for this new adventure. Thank you for the tips !

My poor sister in law has been doing night shifts in med/surg while dealing with my two year old nephew. I pray she can adjust

I've always preferred late/night shifts. My family didn't understand this and would make me switch my internal clock for the few days I visited them and I got sick every single time I visited. They didn't get that 8-10 am was went I went to sleep normally and it wasn't a "lazy" thing. I think it finally clicked when my normal shifts were either 11p-8am or 9pm- 7a.

as a night shifter from a different field of work: try to get out of the house before you for work. usually the busy environment, some sun (if summer) and a little walking got my body going! it helped a lot to take a little walk before work, so I would not feel as groggy starting the shift. stay safe y'all!

Im a night 'walker' too but in a different field. I've been doing it for almost 11 years now. Here are my absolutely must have, my room has to be as dark as possible. I have a fan for 'white noise' to drown out any other noises. it's also very soothing to me. I keep my room as cool as possible. It's been shown that people sleep better in cooler temperatures. Take vitamin D. I've had blood work done, and my doctor said my vitamin D was extremely low. Which makes plenty of sense. Good luck. I didn't struggle too much when i started. I saw someone made a comment about it being a mindset. I couldn't agree more. Embrace the night shift!

Taking caffeine from the start of your shift will only result in crashing after a few hours due to adenosine so unless sleep deprived before shift try not to take and take only when feeling sleepy or tired

I do all around shifts mornings, evenings and nights. It's all bout the mindset.

Fuck tips no matter what the sleep at night has no substitute. Night shift had ruined everything

You've got this Jake!!!

I started working nightshift at this casino im at from 10pm - 6am i had a emotional breakdown first night was only there for 3 hours. Its hard for me to hear because its so loud and my coworkers have accents. Some of them are very assertive with their work but i dont know anything about being a busser, its new for me. I had a good christmas so wish me luck

As someone that now works nights but has always preferred to be active at night rather than the day. My problem with the schedule has practically nothing to do with me being sleepy at work it was surprisingly easy to flip my schedule, but my problem is I almost never have good time to spend with friends since they are all day workers.

He pointed out a very important tip. Put your phone on do not disturb setting. It prevents a lot of stupid/robo/telemarketing phone calls from waking you up in the middle of the day.

Can confirm, us night staff are awesome ;)

I worked over 15 years on almost all nights. It was easier for me than days because I’d never been able to sleep nights, and that’s basically since I was around 10or 11 years old.

As a former healthcare worker I spent the majority of my 20yrs on nightshift. I haven't worked in healthcare since 2010, and I still function better during the night then I do during the day.

You got this Jake!! 💗

He said he eats dinner at 6pm. I think he meant 6am😂 There's a reason companies have to give a differential in pay scale for night workers, because it's unhealthy, period.

I watched this video and took notes before starting my night shift schedule. I learned quickly that I can sleep pretty much try an earthquake and don’t need much but a night mask to sleep. It’s my third week and I feel like this shift was what I was born for 😂

My suggestion for working nights: Stop drinking coffee habitually. Save it for when you really need it.

Ear plugs are a must. I'm speaking from experience. Especially when you have asshole neighbors like mine who leave their barking dogs in the yard all day.

If you have children you have to flip your schedule back and forth if you want to spend quality time with them. I’ve been doing nights for over 16 years and average about 4 hours of sleep a day when working and 10 hours on my days off 🤣 And yeah…nightshifters are awesome people 😎

Been doing it for almost two years it really isn't worth it and its mentally draining

Thank you to all the doctors who care so much and make sacrifices each day.

I did a NOC shift this past Sunday, it’s now Tuesday and my body still feels it.

Yes we are awsome people because we tend to be a little CRAZY. That's why you fit in so well Doc....crazy people. 💕

#1 this gets so old hearing this. It's not realistic. Most of us don't have to do "a month of nights" we are all nights all the time. You can't function or see your family if you don't at least somewhat flip your sleep schedule for your days off. A better piece of advice would be, stack your shifts, 3 in a row for nurses, get it over with and you will have more consecutive days off to adjust your sleep so you can function since the you can't get your oil changed or go grocery shopping at 2am

Been night shifts at a factory 4-on/4-off for 6 months, been switching from night sleep schedule to day sleep schedule. It has been absolutely terrible. I started to get into the swing of it. But now i cant sleep straight through the day nor straight through the night. Gonna start “embracing the nights” like you said. My body’s circadian, cortisol, and body temp. Rhythms have been super discombobulated, I gotta get on one sleep schedule.

My sleep schedule is completely the opposite I love being up at night and I tend to think clearer aswell

Thank you 😊

Thx for sharing

I’ve been a night owl all my life. I can’t WAIT to work night shifts! 😊💯

Night shift 40 years...😐 Cooked for a big family before nursing Kept cooking for a big family while working.....all those young docs knew I was there 6-7nights per week.... 96 16s in a row after Katrina Holding slots for other nurses who went to New Orleans to help.....got a couple proposals for being a great cook.....😂.... Took good care of er and ICU and tele......☺️ Also learned where to hide a young doc so he could sleep a couple hours....🤭

Always eating the dinner I never got at home at 8:30am😢 Breakfast is always 5pm. Dinner 8-9am. And no matter what (off shift or on) my tummy clock always goes off at 1am craving ANY carb available!!😳😂❤️

Your piece is heartwarming and profound; akin to a book that was heartwarming and profound. "Better Sleep Better Life" by William Brook

I currently a night auditor in a 5 star hotel. I completely agree with not flipping your schedule back in fact it is my day off or rather night off. I'm going to be up all night.

I work in medical production I make the IV bags

I can’t go several night shift but will only sleep 3 hrs

I am in the night shift for about 30 years, because I had issues sleeping at night. I sleep well at daytime. Earplugs are an absolute must have. use the silicon ones. and make a bit vasline on it. when you pull them out, be carefull not to break them apart. I use a ballpoint pen without a refill inside. or, a thin(!) soft paper tissue to pull them out carefully.

I normally work by myself at my job overnight but there was one time when the owner kept the place open all night so there was a couple of people with me and quite a few times those people would say that it was boring and some of them literally ran out the door when it was time for them to leave

Im a natural night owl, i was BORN at 4:51pm , 1st night home from the hospital & Momma went to bed while Daddy cradled me in his lap & we watched the late late show😁 As soon as i found out there was such a thing as night shift (in high school: McDonald's openers-- 4am to 10a.m.) i was THERE MAN!!! I come from a family with MANY natural night owls as it seems there's a genetic component to it. As a night shift nurse who is occasionally compelled to play nicely with sun seekers, your best bet is carry a sandwich in your pocket, and use your lunch break for a brief nap. Ask a veteran night shifter to babysit a clock for u & give u a wakeup call. And YES, we appreciate sun seekers' help on our shift enough that we WILL do that for you MOST GRATEFULLY, as a gesture of appreciation for coming outta your comfort zone & lending a hand😂 We're just glad u showed up!!

Me who has always had a crazy irregular sleep schedule. Sometimes I sleep during the day sometimes I sleep at night. It can cause problems sometimes.

I work only night shift for the last 9 month but i work in hotel. The best advice is to go to sleep if you can for at least one hour. You will be amazingly refresh after that for the rest of the night. So just to be sure you are sleeping one hour sleep two hours on your work everynight like i do. Hope this helps 😅

This is good for any 3rd or overnights. I've preferred them

Careful who you call a friend, there are two sides to every coin

Back in my early nights, in the 90s I used to fall asleep with the TV and fan on. Now I still fall asleep easiest with the TV and fan.

I worked nights in ER/ICU some of my fellow nurses said they took melatonin to help them sleep. I tried it, but without success. I was raising four kids, and inevitably I’d get woke up most days. My usual amount of sleep was only 3-4 hours. I’m retired now, and still can’t sleep at night.

God bless all of you!

I work in mfg. I work 4 12's. Im loving it! Been doing it for a few years. Yep its 4am and im on utube. I cleaned my shop earlier. I live rural and sometimes do stuff like take off on the atv for a night ride. Im married but no children so that makes it easier. she likes to sleep late so it works good.

Also, BIG TIP OF THE DAY: check your moon calendar...if your NOT used to nights anyway, do NOT pick up a full moon shift! (You're welcome😊)

You can tell he’s tired because he said he has breakfast and dinner at 6pm

Just another suggestion. If you have a career doing nights you can really only do it so long. So if you’re young and in the early part of your career go for it. But you need to know when to stop. You can do things that can help you adjust to a night schedule but it will catch up with you. There’s lots of research now on how night shifts can completely wreck your health in many ways.

Yeah…. Try and do all this while having two children…

My kid is a paramedic. They have him doing a couple of day shifts, then a couple of evening shifts and then a couple of night shifts before a few days off and the cycle starts again. I think it is insane. We need these people working at their peak but we are scheduling them so that they can never get into a regular sleeping pattern and enable them to actually thrive. I wouldn’t survive much more than a week, maybe a month max.

As a medical student. You forgot provigil.

Do night shifts for a very long time can cause a lot of sleeping issues in the future that can lead to a lot of other complications

My dad has been on night shifts 6-5 times every month for the past 30 years as a surgeon and he is always really tired. I remember once he fell asleep during a concert and his sister asked if this is what he usually does and we started laughing

We are 4 interns posted in busy Accident and emergency department. So we take turns😂😂 we all stay awake till 1 where there are lot of cases and once we shift those patients to eicu or micu we take turns and sleep. I always go 6 a.m -8 a.m

Breakfast 6pm lunch midnight and dinner 6pm can you explain the dinner time please

Many jobs require night shifts not just medical...

just make sure to check the cameras time to time, save as much power as possible, and only close the doors when absolutely necessary

For sleeping during the day I do that already My sleep schedule is a mess Hell rn I’m literally posting this at midnight my time

Ambien also helps (me at least)

I need to flip back and forth. After 3 12 hour night shifts - def not going to stay up the other four by myself. Im going on 6 years and need to flip on days off.

I worked night shifts for 3 months and slept only 4 hours every day, I would say it was very bad, I suffered from sleep disorders and digestive disorders. I plan to resign this Sunday😭😭😭

The one i heard was that if you’re pulling a long haul shift (ex. 6AM to 2AM, then back up at 6 again) you should *always* shower if you can. It makes you feel clean and helps you actually sleep, even if it take time out of when you can actually be in bed

I like your painting! Any idea where I can get a print?

just went to nightshift and having rough time as a CNA

Thanks

But I don't wanna work night shifts😭

how to survive if your anemic?

any night shift jobs.

I would probably thing night shifts is hell because when i was 5 year old i always woke up at 2-3am and sleep at 9-10am and it was hell because i got trauma 💀

Put tinfoil on your windows

Don’t forget the blackout curtains! ❤

I came here because I have a couple newborns.. sort of like a 24 hour hospital

I usually sleep 8-9 hours a day during my day shifts, but during night shifts my body needs only 4 hours sleep, after that I wake up spontaneously, is it normal?

Thank I needed this. But... you sure have some red eyes. Hahaha

thats great unless you have kids who are day walkers.

Just start watching yt shorts at night. You won't even realise and the night will be over, then you will start sleeping in the day. And, voila.. you sleep schedule has been changed.

Lunch breakfast dinner at 6pm ? What u saying man

Amen

I am on my SECOND YEAR of night shift.. like from Monday to Friday 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪 so shut up

nights are easy, give me tips for days

Easy! Just have insomnia!

You don’t have any eye bags 😑 you’re lying 😂 jk thank you for the work you all put in ❤

i thought it said night shits

So much goodness....

Guys, I have to do night shift as a CNA and I’m nervous. Should I sleep all day, and if I do what time should I eat breakfast and lunch?

A month? Try a decade boy.

No way to commit to nights. Not realistic. I have been doing 3 nights shifts a week for 8 years. No way to go shopping, dentist, family etc if i “commited to nights” for 8 years. No beach walks with the dogs at 2am. Maybe you had the luxury of only a month of night shifts. If that was a yearly ongoing shift, that is advice is not realistic. That would lead to serious depression being alone all night every night i was not working.

Been working night shift for 2 years. I miss the sun

A month... lmao

Went from evenings/nights to days. It's not a shift change. It's a life change.

but you had twl coworkers

😢Nah

I liked night shifts had more fun Staff were s blast funny honest m

Not worth it