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Staying awake on third shift - tired :(

Posted: Aug 10, 2011

I was just wondering how many other people work third shift and have such trouble staying awake? I have been doing third shift for a while and it's HARD!!! I have a new baby and my husband watches him in the day, but I cannot seem to get more than 4 hours of sleep during the day and then I try to take a nap in the evening before work, but I am STILL having problems staying awake and I know being tired sets one up for disaster for mistakes. I am thinking of talking to my physician to see if there is anything I can take to keep me awake for my shift. I also suffer from ADD, but I don't take medication for that, as I have always been cautious about meds, but I am about to break down and take some. Anyone else have or had this problem before? If so, did you take anything to keep yourself awake?

Thank you for letting me vent.

The exact reason this shift should get better pay...it's HARD! - Hayseed

[ In Reply To ..]
Frosts my butt how companies only want to pay like a quarter of a cent more for shift differential. This shift will take years off your life in a matter of months!

Really, the only way to make it is to have the cooperation of the people who live with you. When you need to sleep, they need to really respect that and, as we all know, that's WAY easier said than done. ;-)

Another issue is days off...you really need to stay on a 3rd shift schedule on your days off. It's like asking a dayshift person to suddenly swing to nights for 2 days, then go back to regular daytime life and not feel like crap. It's do-able but definitely will make you FEEL sick...like really really really bad jetlag.

Sleep hygeine is a must. You really have to have a schedule and stick to it. Mine is personally in bed at 3:00 pm and up out of bed and at the computer by 11:00 pm. Working at home is the bomb for this, because you can literally roll out of bed and into a chair if you have to.

I have no idea how a baby factors into that--I'm pregnant myself, and a third shifter, and am crapping my pants wondering how I'm going to pull it off because I cannot afford to take any time off. I'm sure I'll get myself comitted in a few months ;-)

My husband is a HUGE help though, as he was always a shift worker too, so he understands the need for quiet. Turn off the phone, stick a note on the front door, room-darkening curtains, white noise machine, and lately I've been using Benadryl as a sleep aid.

I had to quit the coffee because it was making me nauseous, so I don't have caffeine as a pick-me-up anymore but I honestly don't miss it. I think I do better with just water and/or Crystal Light on my desk. Makes me pee, and a full bladder and getting up to pee keeps me alert! On my lunch break, I take a nap. That right there is a HUGE help and helps me stay awake through the day until I hit the rack at 3:00 pm.

I also like it warm but that makes me sleepy, so I have to keep it uncomfortably cool in the office to keep me alert.

Good luck. I wish I could say it would get easier but the sad fact is our world doesn't think us shift workers exist, and I think we really should get hazard pay for it.
:-)

lack of sleep here too - jj

[ In Reply To ..]
I have worked 3rd shift (only part time though) for 11 years. When my first son was born I was determined to make it work. It was easier then. My husband is a truck driver and was running the road more then so we had the house to ourselves. For the first 2 years, naptime and night time was the same time each day (he took two 1.5-2 hour naps each day), then at 3 and 4 years old we would take one 2 hour nap per day. I would be in bed at 1:00 a.m. to wake up with him at the crack of dawn (literally) at 5:30 or 6:00 then back down for the 2 hours mid day. When he went to school I worked days (for just one year) then found out we were pregnant. Second baby wasn't as easy, wouldn't take the normal naps..plus I'm getting older here. Then we had this bright idea to homeschool (don't regret it, it is great, just hurts the sleep schedule). Now I have my regular schedule working 4-5 hours per night on no nap during the day because of schooling a 6th grader and a preschooler, taking them to their activities, and 5-6 hours sleep per night. Oh, and hubby is still trucking, but locally and home during the day sleeping because he works all night long delivering.

Because I basically have no help, I don't have the luxury of laying down in the afternoon for a few hours to sleep right before I start working so I push through. There have been nights I fall asleep and wake up to look at my screen and I have fallen asleep with my finger on one key and that letter is lined up across the screen a few lines.

I am not a coffee drinker and try to stay away from Mt. Dew at other times and other sodas, so when it gets really bad I drink a Mt. Dew and that perks me up for a couple of hours. Kind of sounds like I am drugging up, but I haven't built up the nerve to try the 5-hour energy drinks. I find I snack more, trying to eat crunchy fruits or veggies when I do, or I chew gum. I keep a glass of iced water or tea at my desk all the time. Seems the colder it is, it just wakes me up.

I know it's hard with a new baby, but believe me it can be done. You are lucky you have help. It's hard also knowing your husband and baby are in the next room playing and you are missing it all, or there's housework to do. I completely understand and I'm sorry I don't have any help to give you. I'm not the type of person who can relax enough to sleep (unless I'm exhausted and pass out).

I have to work to bring in even just that extra little bit of money because my husband's job is just short of what we have to have each month or I definitely would not do this for the little bit of pay we get..this is so not right and sometimes it's just not worth it.

Just hang in there. It will get better. You will find your "groove" eventually. Best of luck to you!!

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