1. Tip #1. Paying off sleep debt and building resilience: In preparation for night shift, stay up later each night before night shift. However, sleeping all day is not always an option due to classes and homework. I cannot emphasise this strongly enough: if you have a long drive ahead of you after a night shift, please think twice before getting behind the wheel to drive home! However, resorting to quick fixes will only make your shifts more difficult in the long run. Before your night shift: ⢠Most people can cope with up to a 2-3 hour shift in their sleep-wake cycle. Try and sleep in as much as you can in the morning of starting the first night shift. Reset your sleep-wake cycle by refraining from eating for 12 to 16 hours before you want to be fully awake. Find Constructive Ways to Keep Busy âAnother factor to take into consideration about the night shift is it tends to be more âlow key,â which can make the shift feel longer,â says Becker. Other adjustments like going to the gym at night, and doing housework like dishes at 10 p.m. or midnight, rather than when you finish dinner, can also prepare your body for standing and working when itâs usually sleeping. Our digestive system and body clock have not evolved with time, so eating when itâs dusk or dawn are good cues for night shift workers. You can follow the steps below to adjust your sleep schedule for night shifts gently: Go to bed 2 hours late and wake up 2 hours late; Take a nap before your shift begins for the day/night; When you are awake, keep yourself busy to avoid falling asleep; Slowly change your sleep timings from night to day Eat your âmainâ meal before your shift and limit yourself to only filling, easily digestible snacks overnight, if you get hungry. When you work long shifts, whole days of freedom can make a big difference in how you feel when you go back to work. You can also take 20 minutes and get some exercise in at your midway point in order to make it to clocking out time. Finish your shift with a light breakfast as the sun rises. You want to make sure you are prepared for the changes that are about to happen. Sleepâand napâbeforehand. You should gradually delay your bedtime by one or two hours each night a few days prior to starting the night shift if possible. The night shift can create a vicious cycle that harms the quality and quantity of sleep you get. Letâs say you are currently working a day shift and planning to rotate to a night shift the following week. Socialize with other night shift workers. Shift workers with rotating schedules should prepare for shift changes by adjusting their sleep times. If you have a few days before you start night shifts, gradually taper your sleep and wake times towards the new schedule, for example, by rising 2 hours later each day and going to bed 2 hours later. Exhausted drivers are a threat to themselves and other members of the public too. Exercise Before Your Shift â Some may think that this will tire you out faster, but if you are able to kick start your metabolism with exercise before your shift, you will feel the positive effect for hours afterward. In the afternoon before night shift, close the blinds and get a nap to reduce any sleep debt before night shift. Not getting enough rest before starting a shift. Avoid these five common mistakes and youâll adapt to the swing of a night shift quickly. 2. Look for groups on social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Meetup) that connect night shift workers in your area. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Switching to the Night Shift . We have compiled 6 tips to help healthcare professionals make the jump from the night shift to the day shift. If you stay up all night and then sleep all day, you probably wonât be able to go to sleep early the following night. 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