Life is different lived on the opposite schedule of the majority of folks. The last three days I have been on call and haven't gotten home till around 8am. I've been going to sleep just after that. Yes, it's different. Yes, it is hard to sleep in the daytime and just hard in general. But yes, it is rewarding to help folks in crisis in the middle of the night.
So here is my night shift survival guide:
1. Get plenty of sleep. Keep your room as dark and quiet as possible, and try to sleep the full 8 hours you would normally sleep.
2. Practice relaxation and stress management techniques. Whether it's yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or journaling, make sure you take time to relax and re-center yourself to counter-act the stress of being up all night.
3. Drink a lot of water. It isn't always natural to drink a lot of water at night so make sure you always have a big container of water near you to keep you from getting dehydrated or turning to sugar or caffeine laden beverages.
4. Maintain an active social life. Make it a point to get together with friends at times when you are not working. Working night shift can contribute to a sense of isolation, but making regular appointments and dates with friends will bypass loneliness.
5. Get some sunshine. Lack of sunshine can contribute to depression so make sure you get at least an hour of sunshine every day. Whether it's in the morning or afternoon doesn't matter but going for a leisurely stroll in the sun will contribute to your sense of well being.
6. Maintain a positive attitude. Appreciate having a job where you are able to contribute to society and use your skills. Be happy about the little things like less traffic on a commute or being able to see the first morning light.
Have you ever worked 3rd shift? How did you survive?
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