How to Transition to the Night Shift
When you transition to the night shift, you are making a huge sacrifice. You will have reduced contact with the outside world because you are up while most others are sleeping, and vice versa. But there are some benefits, such as higher pay and the ability to be more productive. There are a few ways that you can go about transitioning to a late night shift seamlessly.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Divide your day into eight-hour segments. Eight hours for sleeping, eight hours for working and eight hours for relaxing or taking care of errands and life needs. Sleep right before work, just as you would with a normal schedule, and handle errands in the morning right after your late shift.
-
2
Have a long, luxurious sleep the day before you start working the night shift. Sleep as long as your body will allow---preferably ten hours or more. If your shift starts at 6pm, sleep from about 5am until 3pm.
-
-
3
Cook a hearty meal that will give you energy and stamina for your late night shift. Grains, lean proteins and fish, and complex carbohydrates like potatoes will help you to build up your energy. Remember that your first meal when you wake up before you shift is now similar to breakfast.
-
4
Prepare a snack and a "lunch" for your night shift. Most of the food stores will not be open late to serve you food.
-
5
Bring a small radio with you to keep yourself entertained during your night shift if you will be working alone, as in the case of a security guard. Turn on a talk show or play a motivational CD. A constant lack of human interaction at work can cause a person to get restless---hearing a voice helps.
-
6
Talk to your family members and friends either before your shift begins or at the very beginning of your shift since they will likely be going to sleep sometime while you're working.
-
7
Coordinate with a close, trusted family member to allow your kids to sleep over if you are a single parent.
-
8
When you are off of work, spend as much time outside in the daylight as possible to avoid depression. A constant lack of sunlight can give you symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a depressive disorder.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Carry pepper spray or another legal item with you for self-defense since you will most likely have to walk around outside by yourself often or take public transportation at night.
