Archie-fox Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 So for all you night shift workers out there... I work 2 days then 2 nights per week.. Then have 4 days off.. But I seem to spend 2 days recovering from my night shifts...so do any of you night shift guys have any tips for recovering from working all night.. I get home at 7am ish and stay in bed till 1pm ish... Any trade secrets to a quick recovery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I work the same shifts as you , have done for 25 years , it is tiring especially as you get older. I usually try to stay up quite late on my first day off so I get a decent nights sleep then I am hopefully ok for the next 3 days . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berthaboo Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I work constant nights Monday to Friday and have done for over 10 years no real trick to it you just need to give your body time to adjust. I have changed my sleep pattern a few times to suit. I used to work 1am till about 8am I used to go home get in bed then back up by 12 so i could go gym to train then I used to sleep again once I got home and freshened up. I now work 18:30 - till 02:30 and now I go home get in bed and I get up about 0930 and do what I need to do before work. Some times if I do feel tired then I will stay in bed and rest. Just listen to your body and you will be fine. Think the issue you will have is the swapping and changing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Just work the 4 night shifts together and then alternate with the other person to do 4 days only. it's impossible to run 2 days alternating your body wont take it for long but 4 nights then 4 days preferably with a day off between is not to bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartward Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I like you normally get up at 1pm ish when I have to work that night but on my last night I try and get up a couple of hours earlier then when I go to bed that night I am really tired and sleep like a log ( a good drink also helps this ) the next morning I can get up at a normal time and join the real world again. Also on the last night before my first night at work I stay up really late and then have a good lay in the next day and then go all the way through. Works for me and I've been doing it nearly 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I find that you can sleep 'too long', when trying to recover from nights. 3 hours' kip at most for me after the last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Yea I've done it for 6-8 years now and just can't seem to adjust to it... I just feel like I've been in a car crash for 2 days after my last night!!! Just realised I've posted this in the wrong section if the mods could remove it to off topic please.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I always tried to get up before mid day, have a normal day then bed at a normal time. That worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I worked that shift pattern for a year. Then realised it was killing me & found another job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Unfortunately there is no quick fix mate, I have worked just about every pattern an Time out there on perm nights now 23.00 - 0700. I have found not drinking too much coffee helps you sleep better during the day. Try staying up for a bit rather than hitting the sac as you come through the door. Try not to pull an all day night up on your first shift as it just catches up with you later on in the week. In the end your working against your body's natural clock and it will take its toll there have been numerous studies on the effects of sleep deprivation linked to night time working patterns. Then again I can sleep anywhere any time lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I had nearly 5 years on permanent nights and found that I was less tired if I worked 6 nights than working 5 nights. I wouldn't work alternating shifts, why do you think the police are said to have short retirements? People who have studied animal behavior, reckon we should have two periods of sleep in each 24 hr period. Try to fit the same sleep periods in between shifts on and shifts off, if you are not doing 12 hr shifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iced Tiger Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I also work the same shift pattern, 12 hour shifts, no problems on the last night turn around. The last day shift stay up late, up at lunch next day, then back to bed from 3pm to 5pm, then off to work on the first night, back home at 08:30am, straight to bed until lunch, then up for an hour then back to bed until 5pm. Do the second night shift and back home at 08:30am, straight to bed and up at 1pm. Chill out in the afternoon and go to bed as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I worked that shift pattern for a year. Then realised it was killing me & found another job. Me to its well known that its not good for your health. Doing the night shift throws the body "into chaos" and could cause long-term damage, warn researchers. Shift work has been linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 4 nights, 4 off, 4 days, 4 off suits me fine 8 years on this system now and it gives me plenty of shooting time when everyone else is at work BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Me to its well known that its not good for your health. My dad was a Bobby for 30 years and now has type 2 diabetes and stomach ulcers he says its from eating at all hours and not sleeping rite... 4 nights, 4 off, 4 days, 4 off suits me fine 8 years on this system now and it gives me plenty of shooting time when everyone else is at work BB. That's the only good part!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 My dad was a Bobby for 30 years and now has type 2 diabetes and stomach ulcers he says its from eating at all hours and not sleeping rite... . That's the only good part!!!! Some work 9-5 and then spend every night in the boozer necking 8-10 pints,think I would sooner take the risks that come with shift work mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novice cushie shooter Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) I do 2 week blocks of days/nights on my nights i sleep from 0830 am till 330pm then on my 1st day off get up at 12 so i am still tired but able to function but it makes me want my bed at 9/10 at night but it means i sleep and not in shift mode if you see what i mean. The key for me is good sleep between shifts which isnt always easy but ear plugs and eyemasks do help. Age is a factor too. I am 36 but a lot of older guys 50-60 really struggle. Good luck Ps i get 2 hoursin the afternoon before my 1st shift. Edited October 6, 2015 by novice cushie shooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Stay up late the first day off and sleep short. Say bed at 2pm for 2_3hours the get up again. Then go to bed at normalish time say 9pm and get up first day off as normal. Worked for me for the last 12 years. First one is always an ***. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labstaff Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I work the same shift pattern too. Between days and nights i stay up a bit later, get up about 7 then back to bed between 14.00 and 16.00. On my first rest day i get to bed about 9 after sorting the dogs and get up about midday.....or go beating!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boo Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 we done 2 weeks about for abut 18 years, next 5 was on 3 shifts 5 days, 5 afternoons , 5 nights far worse than nights.....packed it in, now do 4 days a week for similar pay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Some work 9-5 and then spend every night in the boozer necking 8-10 pints Most don't, if anyone it that way inclined they will be drinking day shift or night shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Most don't, if anyone it that way inclined they will be drinking day shift or night shift. Plenty do and if as you state above drink on shift day or night, then after a while they would have plenty of drinking time due to losing there job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
officerdibble777 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 For many years I worked a variety of times through out the month,when your duty time was up,if your relief hadn't shown face you had to wait to a relief showed up.sometimes you had to do 18 hours straight sometimes you had to start at 12 midnight. I found if you try to eat at the same times every day and get a good sleep for about 4 hours ,I was always up and able for anything. Retired now and still getting by on little sleep and eat at the same time every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Plenty do and if as you state above drink on shift day or night, then after a while they would have plenty of drinking time due to losing there job I may have one or two in a morning don't think I could manage more than that be up all day going to the lav lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftycarper Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I work 7 nights then get 3 off, then work two day shifts get sort of 3 days off and back to work on the 3rd night for seven nights again. Been doing it for twenty years now but come the night before the day shift I can never get to sleep, I end up getting to sleep around 1-1:30 am and up again at 4:30am to start work at 7. I tend to mostly finish my 7th night shift and then stay up for the day I finish so I can get a good nights sleep that night and the next night before I have the problem with the last night before the day shift if that makes any sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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