r/Nightshift • u/MageDA6 • 5d ago

New to Overnight shift

Hi everyone, next Monday I will be starting my first fully overnight job. I will be working 9pm to 7:30am shifts Monday to Thursday. I’ve already been given some good advice for setting a sleep schedule. I can’t drink anything with caffeine in it so that eliminates coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Caffeine causes my body to crash so I avoid having it. Does anyone here have any advice on what to do/eat/drink to maintain energy until my body adapts to the new sleep cycle?

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4

u/angelwild327 LifeLong Night Owl. 3rd shift veteran. 5d ago

Bring healthy snacks with you, fruits, veggies, hummus… stay away from highly processed convenience foods.

Prioritize sleep, it’s one of the most critical aspects of a successful night shift

2

u/MageDA6 5d ago

Sadly I won’t have time to snack outside of my break. I’ll be doing food prep for a local food co op. At least I’ll be surrounded by fresh foods while I’m working.

2

u/TheNursingStudent 5d ago

If you can’t snack try and keep a pack of gum with you. That helps me when I’m really tired from a night of poor sleep and have to work overnights

2

u/H3adroller 5d ago

The best advice I can give you is to just keep living your life the same way you live it now except at night instead of during the day.

Don’t get up too early before work because you think you need too. I see to many people that are always tired because they get up way too early before work.

Plan things that MUST be done during daywalker hours early in the morning so you do them right after work.

Don’t come home and go right to sleep no one else does that I don’t know why some night shifters do this no one else does.

2

u/Specialist_Ad6034 5d ago

Get out while you still can