How to Survive Overnight Shifts
I’ve gotta admit- I’m loving these night shifts. I was on day shift for one week and the rest of the summer have all been overnight. I can’t believe how much I was yawning when I was on days. Yeah…7p-7a works for me. It’s so much more relaxed than day shift too because you don’t have all the services coming in and out or all the managers and JCHAO worries.
So…how to survive it if you’re new.
I try to stay up as late as possible the night before (like 5am) and then sleep through until it’s time to get up and get going. If that doesn’t work, I’ll take a nap at, say, 2am until 5am and wake up for a little bit. I’ll do errands, laundry, watch TV- whatever- and then go back to bed from 9 or 10 until 5pm when I wake up for work.
At work, space out your snacks and food. They keep you awake. Some drink coffee. I take two Diet Dr. Peppers with me. I usually only need about one and a half, but you never know when there’s a slow night.
Anyone else want to weigh in? How do you manage during the graveyard shift?
Love,
Laney
