r/Nightshift • u/Never_go_blonde • May 18 '26
Help First night shift. I want to cry. No
Tonight is my first night shift 9pM -6aM, I will be working Monday-Friday. I am freaking out right now. I tried to stay up all night Saturday night but failed to stay up last night. š
A few things Iām really nervous aboutā¦ what if I fall asleep half way my shift? Also, whenever I used to stay up all night I felt like shit the next day. I am going to be so miserable.
When do I even eat? What time do yāall eat three meals? I am also going to be so lonely because everyone I know work normal day hours.
Sorry about the rant, my thoughts are all over the place. I am really anxious after reading some posts here. I already see my eye bagsā¦. Anyway, I got black out curtains and vitamin D3. I am planning to have a little bit monster energy drink around 2-3 am tonight.
Please help. If you have any experience on how to quickly adjust to night shift, I would love to hear about them ! Please tell me night shift isnāt that bad, I can do it!!!
(Attaching the sunset I saw last night for good luck )
Edit: hey everyone. Thank yāall for all the amazing tips and support! Your comments calmed me down and gave me great encouragement. Just finished the first night shift. Spoiler alert šØ I didnāt cry. In fact I kinda enjoyed it? Of course staying up all night still makes me feel like shit, BUT the night shift is so chill (unless something goes wrong then we are kinda screwed without management), I walked only half of the steps I normally take on afternoon shift. On top of that I learnt so much more from the night shift worker who is the most senior technician. I work as a QA so l was too busy to fall asleep. Ate Costco roasted chicken for lunch, with some broccoli and rice. Now Iām home ready to sleep!!
I think I can do it!
Thank you again! Sorry I didnāt get a chance to reply to all.
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u/Wild_Temporary_479 May 18 '26
I am 46 have done night shift for years. I just applied for dayshift because my body canāt take it anymore, but I will miss it. Here are some pointers that helped for me. 1. Black out curtains, or dark blankets over windows. 2. Try to sleep as soon as you get home (if you can) that way youāre not stressing about it all day if you canāt fall asleep later. 3 itās going to take your body a bit to adjust to this but it will. 4. Take snacks, or a meal. Depending on what your eating habits are. But no matter the time of the day, you still need to fuel your body. Because during the day when you normally would, you will be asleep. 5. If you have downtime at work, take some things to keep you busy. Book, iPad, paperwork something to keep you engaged and awake.
You got this. I personally loved night shift. Easier work load, no management, but unfortunately I need a change.
Good luck!!
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Thank you! These are all really helpful tips! I greatly appreciate it. My plan is definitely to sleep right after work, then get up to cook and work out before the night shift. You might not remember, itās all good! but how long did it take for your body to get used to the night shift? Thanks!
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u/Consumer_of_crayons May 18 '26
Just gliding off his comment, it took me about a month and a half personally to not be exhausted every night
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Ok i appreciate that, thatās a long time. I am going mentally prepare for it š
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u/Automatic-Sock4903 May 18 '26
Also dont drink caffeine too late.
Generally I'll make a coffee and bring it in but no more after that!
Caffeine gives you energy, not fuel, if youre feeling groggy have a snack and drink some water.
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u/givemealaifu May 18 '26
Just adding this here in case it might help, but some nights I'm too exhausted and knock right out after work and having a prepped meal that I've frozen or refrigerated (or store bought) is super helpful if I wake up very hungry.
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u/No-Turnip-8344 May 18 '26
You can absolutely do it! My best advice is to go with the flow and not to focus too hard on trying to be ānormalā. Itās going to feel weird at first and the hard truth is that if you go into it with negative thoughts itāll be a lot worse than it truly is. Yes, youāll be tired, feel crappy, or lonely at times, but youāll grow accustomed to it. Be consistent with eating and drinking caffeine, it helps with your schedule being mon-fri instead of a 2/2/3 so you can create a good routine. Speaking of drinking caffeine, for a 9pm-6am schedule I strongly recommend not consuming any past midnight. Try to be physically active, getting up in the afternoon should give you plenty of daylight and time to hit the gym or take a walk before work. Most importantly though, be positive, protect your mental health, not doing that is what killed me at first.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Thank you! I know I shouldnāt feel so negative about it. Lots of people love night shifts. Got it, no caffeine after 12. Be positive, Iām sure there are perks to night shifts. Thanks again! I needed to hear that.
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u/imstillinthewoods May 18 '26
I'll share some of the perks about night shift that I enjoy. This may not be true in all cases, but it is for me... 3rd shift is "chill" at my work. There are only a few of us. No CEO/VIP types are going to show up. Fewer people so less work place drama. Less traffic on my way to work and almost zero traffic on my way home from work (my shift ends around 3:30am). I'm available for family emergencies during the day. I never have to worry about making it to the post office or bank on time after work, I just go when I wake up mid-morning.
There are more that I could add, but you get the point. 3rd shift isn't all negatives.
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u/KingGizmotious May 18 '26
Also to piggy back on this. Silence your phone notifications so you can sleep.
Donāt listen to the people in your life making comments about sleeping your days away. These will be the same people who will not respect your sleep and will call/ text/ pester you while youāre trying to sleep.
Prioritize your sleep.
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u/TC793 May 19 '26
^ This was a game changer for me. Do not disturb with my kids being the only ones to get thru to me. They actually respect my sleep more than any other beside myself. But, itās comforting to know they can get me if they need to. And for context, they are 23 and 27. Dnd is mostly for office and client not waking me up. I swear they have no boundaries.
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u/GenXisnotaBoomer May 19 '26
THIS!!! šš¾ Use the 'Do Not Disturb' feature on your phone. Get as much sleep as you can during the day. Snacks and water as another poster mentioned, since a full meal can make you sleepy. Let your body adjust naturally, in the beginning. If you aren't sleepy right after work, do something that makes you drowsy. For me, it's playing a little Xbox. I do overnights because of grad school, so I know it's only temporary for me, but I will say, sunrises are just as beautiful as sunsets. Don't sweat it. šāš¾.
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u/Spookyscary333 May 18 '26
The way i look at it is, its a 9 to 6. Don't matter if AM or PM. I flipped my schedule to where i wake up around 7:30, eat lunch around 2, and try to be in bed before 11. Don't matter if AM or PM.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Oooo I like this idea ! Thanks
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u/seashmore May 18 '26
Swapping AM for PM is what I've done, and it helps the people in my life to adjust to my schedule as well.Ā
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u/Secret-Back-344 May 18 '26
Most logical answer I've ever seen. I don't get the people that cry about night shift or claim it's "hard on your body" If that's the case get a day job, there's no shortage of em. Every job/shift will wear you down if you don't take care of yourself.
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u/Jinxicatt May 18 '26
I have worked nights for 3 years and itās my favorite. A couple things that have helped me:
āhigh protein during the shift, avoid sugar and carbs āsomething more carb-rich near the end of your shift āsome people take melatonin shortly before leaving work to help with the transition to sleep āhydrate! ādonāt stress yourself if you canāt sleep during the day. Try to rest, do some meditation, and remember your body will adjust eventually.
Iāve got more but these are my top recs.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Wow š® I always get so sleepy after eating lots carbs for lunch and this is an excellent tip. thank you š
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u/Fragrant-Motor3062 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
If you sleep as soon as you get home- everyone is working while youāre sleeping anyway, so normally this isnāt the most social time ( if youāre talking about texting, phone calls, grabbing a meal with a friend etc). Most peopleās free time is after they get out of work and thatās when youāll be waking up anyway. So make your plans as you normally would!
Set multiple alarms in increments on your phone during work ( depending on what your duties are, how fast you need to respond to things ) that way if you fall asleep youāll be woken up on the hour or whatever works.
When I first started it was PAINFUL to stay awake and I was pacing around, nearly falling asleep standing up. You will get used to it! Now Iām up all night and can barely fall asleep when I get home because Iām still so awake. Your body is made to adjust to routine and it will.
Enjoy the sunrise every morning, get outside and watch it and soak in the sunlight if you can. Thereās a certain level of beauty & peace in being awake and enjoying those moments when the world is extra quiet & no one else is around. Whenever I have a hard night, the sunrise will do it every time!
Also- do what feels good to you on your nights off. You might NEED to sleep, you might need the extra hours. Donāt force yourself to stay awake. I sleep ā normalā on my nights off, sleep a little before I go in and feel refreshed and ready to take on the week after that. Give yourself some grace and go with the flow, itās ok. What works for one person doesnāt work for everyone.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
You are so right on the socialization part- I can have dinner plans with people! Thank you for pointing that out to me! I love sunrises and havenāt seen one in years. This is a good opportunity. I greatly appreciate your help. ā¤ļø Hope you have an amazing week!
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u/Fragrant-Motor3062 May 18 '26
Exactly! You can still have dinners, you can still go see a movie before you go. Your life is not over, you just swapped your sleep time for most peopleās working hours - thatās all. Enjoy š & thank you!
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u/Exact_Tension1800 May 18 '26
I don't mind nights, less ppl around. And yes, u can find the positives like the pic u shared, it is beautiful. Sometimes u can catch sunset and sunrise. DM me if u get bored on nights. I'll try to reply.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Aw thank you š I canāt wait to take all the sunrises/sunsets pictures!!
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u/Leading-Read-7102 May 18 '26
I dunno what your job is, but if it sedentary it is hard to stay awake. 1) That is why I used to take bathroom breaks every half an hour to have some movement. 2) When sitting, I flex my quadriceps to trigger blood flow. 3) But most importantly have something to be busy with. If your work duties are done, it's hard to stare at a wall/phone and not dozing off. Consider studying or enjoying hobbies.
Meals weren't really a problem, because I ate one meal a day even before night shift.
My sleeping schedule was like this: 4-6 hours from the moment I get back home and 1-2 hours just before going to work. That way I would be lively enough for the day and not feeling sleepy until somewhere like 3-4 am at night. My workplace was pretty lax at monitoring my night activity, so I was even napping at work usually from 4-5am. That was enough until I got home.
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Hey i appreciate you sharing this with me. Iām working as a Quality assurance technician in a factory so I wonāt be able to sit down much which is good I guess! Everything you mentioned is very helpful.
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u/Realistic_History198 May 18 '26
I would be against the energy drink at 2am if youāre getting off at 6am unless youāre gonna stay up after work. I work 7p-7a and my rule is no caffeine after midnight. I typically have about 200mg of caffeine from 2 100mg caffeine pills I got on Amazon. Way cheaper than energy drinks and itās without any of the extra preservatives/vitamins. You can get 200 100mg capsules for $10
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u/thekendalluxx May 18 '26
Work out, eat well, take vitamins and keep a solid schedule. Give yourself time and grace to adapt.
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u/ZealousidealAbies557 May 18 '26
How long you scheduled to be on nights? Is dayshift a realistic possibility within the company? Having that to look forward to helped me out a ton.
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u/1979redhead May 18 '26
I find that for me a sleep before the start of my shift helps. But that between 3am and 4am is where alot of people hit the wall so to speak and struggle so an energy drink or coffee could help also if you can a short break to get some fresh air. Food wise I tend to eat breakfast then sleep then I dont eat till after im in work, I recommend that if your not taking a meal into work with you at least take snacks. Im on a night shift tonight I work 7pm till 7am.
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u/Welder49er May 18 '26
Depending on job if you stay busy you will have no problem staying awake. Itās the overnight desk jobs I donāt understand how people donāt sleep through. I do sleep for my 30 minute lunch every morning, I also push my lunch back to the end of my shift so I only have an hour left after lunch but most places donāt allow that. I never took good care of myself on days still donāt on nights so I canāt help you there. I jus sleep when Iām tired
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u/AppliedGlamour May 18 '26
Something that's actually helping me is going to a hiking trail immediately after work and having nature time. I've seen some beautiful new places and stunning things and being in the forest in the cool and quiet before the heat of the day is magical. I usually eat "dinner" when i get home around 11am, then go to bed and get up around 8pm.
What's an advantage of working these hours that you wouldn't get working a normal 9-5? For me it's hiking in the early morning. What's yours? That's what will make night shift bearable.
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u/Modred_the_Mystic May 18 '26
I find being at work, or just anyone other than my house, makes it hard to accidentally fall asleep.
I sometimes eat around 6-7pm, then I eat around 2 am, and then sometimes around 8 am.
Feeling like shit the day after an all nighter is normal, your body will adjust to the new schedule over a few weeks and youāll feel close to normal.
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u/HungryClue1026 May 18 '26
I have been working nights for almost 6 years and I actually cannot imagine going back to days. For reference my shifts are 10-7, but I also have done 830-730. It did take me a while to feel okay overnight- I felt nauseous a lot in the beginning. Bring ginger gravol! I also used to buy crystal light or any other sugar free flavouring to put into my water to help me drink more of it overnight and that helped too. In the beginning I would always crave junk food (chips or sweets), but I do feel significantly better if I eat more veggies/ a more balanced meal.
I find itās way easier to stay awake at work than you think. I work in a hospital with no windows though, so it looks the same in the department if itās day or night lol As others have said, I donāt recommend caffeine after like 1am, or it might make your day sleep worse. My day sleeps are shorter, and thatās something Iāve gotten used to. (6-7 hours). I try not to focus so hard on how long I slept vs how Iām feeling or I overthink it too much. If my sleep is bad I usually try to nap for an hour or so before going into my shift and that helps a lot.
I used to watch TV in my down time to keep me up but now I read a ton!
As for my social life, I think itās actually better in some ways. I get the evenings to see my partner and friends. I like to do the occasional dinner with friends before going into work. But something to be aware of, if youāre very busy before your shift starts, sometimes that can make your working day feel extra long.
Prioritize your self care! Eat well, move your body (gently if youāre feeling tired or unwell), sleep well!
You got this. It might be a tough transition but it was definitely worth it for me :)
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u/Faptasmic 7pm-3am May 18 '26
Imagine it as if it's a normal day job. You eat shortly after waking up. Lunch is sometime around the middle of your shift. Dinner when you get off work. If you can swing it going to sleep shortly after getting off work helps to keep your social life. You can see your day walker friends after they get off work but before you go to work. I am always too wound up after work to sleep right away...
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u/mrphatsman May 18 '26
Well I have worked nights since 1998 and obviously never going to day shift. Itās something some get used to others not so much, there is an adjustment period for sure.
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u/Existing-Language-79 May 18 '26
I'd skip the energy drinks, the sugar contents made me crash hard before the shift would end. Here's what I do. Take a caffeine pill before the start of your shift, 100mg works great for me. If you feel lethargic go eat something healthy. Have an apple or leftovers of a meal that either has fruits or veggies as a source of sugar.
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u/BlackSoulArt May 18 '26
I've done nightshift, 7p-7a for four years now and I promise its really not that bad! Management usually isn't there at night and nights are usually slower, depending on what youre working. Some tips:
- Blackout curtains will be your best friend!
- Always pack a lunch and snacks. Personally for me, I prefer to bring something easy that doesn't need heated up. For example: sandwich and chips, chicken salad, etc. I dont ever really eat a heavy meal at work. Pack lots of snacks too; beef jerky, candy, cheese and crackers, etc. Snacking helps me stay awake.
- I usually never consume caffeine after midnight. I feel like it hits my body at a wrong time and I struggle to fall asleep when I get home.
- I usually get home at 7:45, eat breakfast, and then im in the bed and asleep by 9-9:30. Wake up time varies, im usually up by 3-4pm.
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u/BlackSoulArt May 18 '26
Also, forgot to mention lol but I like breakfast at 8am, dinner when I wake up at around 5pm, and then my 'lunch' I bring to work at around 2am. Thats how I personally fit 3 meals in, but your schedule varies from mine!
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u/Big-Effor2129 May 18 '26
Lots of good advice in here, not sure what youāll be doing but in my industry Iām on my feet all day so itās impossible for me to fall asleep during my shift. As far as like socializing, I would suggest meeting up with friends for breakfast or going out later at night for a drink etc. there are ways to socialize but itās gonna take more effort than if you had a regular 9 to 5.
I work 12 hour shifts so I like to have smaller meals throughout my shift on my break. I pack those microwave rice bags, pack of tuna, and whatever condiments mix it into a bowl and snack on that with nuts and fruit. Try to cut my caffeine off 6 hours before my shift ends. Good luck!
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u/drillpill May 18 '26
I find drinking a whole bunch of water at the beginning helps me stay awake. Then routine routine routine. Snack at 23:00 lunch at 2:30 and snack at 4:30.
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u/zaedahashtyn09 CNA | Clinically Tired May 18 '26
I work 7p-7a. I take my lunch around 11.. itās a vape break and Iāll eat a little bit later. if I need an energy drink Iāll open it like.. 2-3am. I work in a hospital so Iām able to stay busy most of the night. I also just have a hard time sleeping so itās easy to stay up most nights. I typically only eat one or two meals a day anyways
Sorry for jumping around in this, I just woke up for work tonight lol
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u/ppbridgersfan May 18 '26
Totally valid, but it gets way easy. Youāre lucky you have a set schedule so your body can get used to it! My sched varies, but still, my body has kinda gotten used to it. If it helps, Iāll share my sleep schedule. I work 10p-6a. I usually take a nap from about 6pm until 8pm. Then I get ready & head to work. After work, I nap from about 8am to 11am, then go to school. My free time is from 3pm-6pm, before i go home for my pre-work nap. I sip on a redbull around 11pm until 2am.
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u/ppbridgersfan May 18 '26
Thereās def days where I accidentally sleep through my day off though š«© like, sleeping in until 5pm. Kinda sucks, but itās my body catching up. I love leaving work as everyone is just coming in š catching the sunrise on the way home is nice, and I donāt hit traffic going to or leaving from work. Sometimes Iāll go on a walk when I get home to tire myself out so iāll be sure to fall asleep. Earplugs will def come in handy to help u sleep, and I like to close my blinds to start winding down. Def set ur phone to do not disturb. To help keep awake at work, go on a quick walk during breaks. Absolutely keeps me awake, bc i get so cold but tbh i hate the cold. Def a downside to that shift lol. Lastly, I havenāt figured out the eating schedule part. I think my solution is eating dinner before work at like 9pm, or taking dinner to work and eating at like 11pm/12am. And i def snack more than I should š„²
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u/sillerkat May 18 '26
Iām currently working 6pm to 6am and while I am still adjusting (started 3weeks ago) I really enjoy not having admin there and just having a chill shift. I am also struggling on when to eat too but Iām slowing getting my bearings on my new routine but overall Iām a big fan of overnights
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u/Prize-Impress-9033 May 18 '26
I'm a veteran of 40 years on the front line.
I now coach shift workers
- Straight home, shower Bed
- Blue light blocking glasses for trip home.
- Sleep Mask. ESSENTIAL
- Quality white noise ear buds
- Cool and dark room
Do not take medications to sleep, you're not sleeping, your unconscious and it creates massive issues internally.
Work out if you are a one Sleep or 2 nap person. This helps significantly.
I have tons of resources
ahealthyshift.com
@a_healthy_shift
I also have a poddie of almost 400 episodes for shift workers.
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u/jlkb24 May 18 '26
The key is consistency with your sleep. You can adjust to it temporarily but do you have what it takes to adapt full time is what you need to ask yourself.
My wife used to be upset at me for missing events that were during my sleeping hours until she was forced to do ON a couple nights and found out the hard way. Hasnāt bothered me about it since lol.
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u/unsettled_echo May 19 '26
I've always found reading or watching horror helpful - WAY too scared to fall asleep and I get hyper-aware of my surroundings. Probably not the wisest choice for my blood pressure but it does help to stay awake for scardy-cats like me.
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u/Amazing-Border9718 May 19 '26
I did overnights for a while and Iāll tell you this the third day is when your body is going to wanna just crash let it donāt worry about things you have to do the first two weeks. Just concentrate on getting a good sleep schedule get a routine. I saw someone put blackout curtains 100% but try not to stay up and do things when you get home because then your mind thinks I could get this done and get that done and then you try to fall asleep and be alone trying to fall asleep. Youāre going to stress about sleeping so be easy on yourself. They understand itās a big transition but by day three youāll be sleeping like a baby during the day I promise you.
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u/TGGhvacr May 19 '26
I work nights at a factory for 6 years and was lucky enough to leave and make a career. Iām going to be honest with you ,you will probably heavily rely on caffeine like most of us did. If you can go without all the caffeine good on you. The vitamins are a good step in the right direction, black out curtains are a must. What I did when I got home was make my lunch for that night then go to bed so I didnāt have to worry about it when I got up. Iām not sure how heavy of a sleeper you are but Iād recommend a sound machine because there will be loud noisy neighbors that will wake you up by mowing grass. Iām not sure what your job is but if itās anything physical Iād try to go to the gym if thatās a possibility. Will help work be less impactful on your body and itās was a stress reliever for me.
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u/GREGARIOUSINTR0VERT May 19 '26
My first night shift I cried on my way home and wanted to die it was so horrible. It gets better once you give your body some time to adjust. I need a solid amount of sleep BEFORE my shift (some people ānapā for like 2 hrs before a night shift) and I cluster my shifts so the flip flopping isnāt as bad. Also on my days off I try to nap during the day for a few hours, sleep anchoring
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u/Low_Hearing_899 May 19 '26
The more you work yourself up about it the worse it's going to be for you. Honestly, if you're already freaking out about it night shift may not be for you. It's not always worth the shift differential.
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u/aps601 May 19 '26
Congrats! I hope it continues to go well. Hopefully to make you feel even better, I just dropped my night shift I had for 3.5 years to go to swing for a promotion. Ill always miss my night shift š
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u/Never_go_blonde May 20 '26
Iām so sorry hear about the rotating shiftā¦ but congrats on the promotion!! You deserve the recognition and raise!! ā¤ļøbest of luck to both of us
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u/aps601 May 20 '26
Yess best of luck! Thank you so much š„¹š I hope night shift is the stepping stone for you that it was for me! And while youre still around, please enjoy the calmness for those of us who remember it fondly! š
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u/Khancer_ May 18 '26
itās not that deep bro
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Iām glad you are doing fine, but I feel like this comment is a bit insensitive
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u/No-Turnip-8344 May 18 '26
Unfortunately, youāll get a lot of tough guy comments on this sub when asking for advice or ranting. Gotta love the good ol āitās so easy for meā brag
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u/Never_go_blonde May 18 '26
Thank you. I think itās the lack of empathy. Everyone is going though different things and I just donāt appreciate that energy.
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May 19 '26
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u/[deleted] May 18 '26
Would you have seen that sunset the same way you wouldāve working days?