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How to transition from day shift to night shift - sm

Posted: Dec 08, 2013

I've been offered an in-house MT position that I am not passing up. It is night shift 10 pm to 6 am. I've never worked a night shift ever. How should I transition into working nights? Anyone have any tips for working this shift?

I also work that shift - Night owl

[ In Reply To ..]
If you have a couple of days leading up to your start date, start staying awake longer and longer to start shifting your body clock. You might also think about some Tylenol PM or the like for the first couple of days to help. Melatonin didn't work for me but others swear by it. It helps convince your body that its time to sleep.

Get blackout curtains or black material to cover your bedroom windows. This will be really key to your success. Turn off your phone. I'll say it again. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. I can't tell you how many conversations I have had with coworkers who were awakened by the phone. If you're in an apartment, earplugs may be a good investment as well.

Do you have a family to work around? That will also make a big difference. The thing I've found is I have to be rigidly consistent with my schedule. I work 2 MT jobs, so what works for me is to finish the FT job at 6:30, go for a walk, and then immediately start the PT job. I try to get in bed by noon and up at 8 ish or so.

Having said that, though, it doesn't always work that way. Some days I don't sleep well and it's all I can do to stay awake long enough to get undressed to crawl into bed when I finish at 6:30. Those days aren't so productive, though, not to mention the lack of exercise.

I do maintain a graveyard schedule even on my days off. If I don't, then I'm all messed up again and it takes a couple of days to get back to the groove.

You may run into people who think you can do stuff with or for them because you're home during the day. They don't think about the fact that 8 hours of that time you'll hopefully be in bed sleeping. This can also be a very isolating shift as well, which is a pain. I'd like to find a social group that is up all night and doesn't think it's nuts to be doing stuff at 4 a.m.

When you're at work and getting the sleepies, get up and walk around, drink plenty of water. Take a nap on your lunch break if you need to. Ten or 15 minute power naps are the best thing ever and can get you through the next several hours.

Hope that helps some. Good luck.

EXCELLENT advice. - red eye 2

[ In Reply To ..]
I think THE most important advice is keeping the schedule even on days off, which is really what makes this shift isolating. Even if you have a day off, you really don't... but it is workable and worth it for me as I do get a differential.

But I've always been a night owl by nature, so the transitions have been pretty smooth when I do have to do "normal" things during the day. My most alert time is 3 to 11 p.m., but that shift really is the least conducive to a "life."

There was a point in my life where I had to work 3 to 11 FT and then midnight to 5 a.m. PT to make it work financially for my family. It was hard, but it got us through. So kudos to you for your discipline in your schedule and work ethic!

Oh, and I LOVE the social group idea!! Knowing I'm not the only one crafting a lasagne after midnight on my days off would be very supportive :-)

I'm not a night shift person but one thing that works - also IC

[ In Reply To ..]
for me if I am near the end of my workday is to drink a Coke (WITH caffeine). I can't do it with 3 hours to go because I will crash and not be able to stay awake. But if I have an hour to an hour and a half left and feel like I am not going to make it, a Coke gives me enough of a boost to make it through. I drink coffee earlier in my shift but a cold Coke seems to energize me for the last hour or so.

Definitely easier to work 3rd shift AWAY from home :) - ETOHPRN

[ In Reply To ..]
I found it much easier to work overnights at the facility than at home. At home it is sooo tempting to crash for a few minutes and have it turn into a few hours. Or, you want to turn on lights or turn on some music, or even move around in hour house to make your lunch or something and BAM, you wind up waking someone else up (at least in my tiny house this is how it goes).

Also, chances are you will have a co-worker or two to help keep you company. Another huge bonus to working off site, no matter what the shift.

The worst thing is society doesn't even notice 3rd shifters exist. They will knock on your door, ring your phone, schedule appointments--all in the middle of your "night." It's not easy, that's for sure.

The other suggestions are right on. I use a white noise maker (simply a loud fan) AND those foam earplugs that you can get in a jar of like 100 for just a few bucks. Slap a note on your door, turn off your phone if you can (if you have kids in school that might not be possible), do your best to stay away from uppers and downers like I did. They may help short term, but they will mess you up but good. This I know :(

Good luck and enjoy your new job!

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