How Do You Survive the Night Shift?

Night shifts, night shifts, night shifts. Does anybody like them? Really?

There’s plenty of advice available from colleagues (and the internet) for getting through a night shift. But is any of it any good? Or will nightshift working see you slowly descend into the inevitable spiral of insanity?

Here’s some of the best, and worst advice, for surviving the dreaded nightshift.

Get an Adequate Amount of Sleep

“Working at night interrupts your natural sleep pattern,” says Fran Laukaitis, Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas, USA. She suggests night shift nurses take measures to create an environment conducive for sleep by using curtains that darker the room; and disconnecting things that will disrupt sleep, such as the door bell, phones and electronics.

All very well and good, but have you tried sleeping when the neighbours are in the middle of a building project!

via GIPHY

Use (Legal) Stimulants

Some people swear by them! Red-bull, Coke, pro-plus, being the more acceptable versions. Though some people do prefer stronger versions – just make sure you don’t end up on the ceiling!