Working shifts is like traveling to the other side of the world a couple of times a month. You’re more or less always jet lagged. It’s been proven extremely unhealthy and supposedly takes many years out of your life. Some people seem to get along just fine with it , while others suffer from their first night patrol (or whatever line of work you might be.
1- Prioritize sleep over adventure
When you finish work when everybody else starts their day, it’s tempting to just skip sleeping and go enjoy the best part of the day in the sun. Don’t do it. You need the sleep you didn’t get during the previous night.
2- Respect your health
Don’t work shifts if your body don’t tolerate it. The constant feeling of being a tired zombie is not for everyone, and it’s going to affect yourself and those around you.
3- A little nap can make a huge difference
Depending on your job, there might be room for a little nap. If there’s no room for it you need to become an expert in sneaking off and hiding for 15-20 minutes. It really helps.
4- Stay active
Start the night with a workout. It’ll get your energy levels up which might help you for the next hours. Furthermore, when you feel the vail of choking tiredness at 4 in the morning, sitting in a car or on a desk doesn’t help. Try to do something a little more physical.
5- Find ways to get back to normal
After a period of night shifts, I find it incredibly hard to ‘turn back around’. Avoiding naps, a good workout and red wine usually does the trick for me!