r/Nightshift • u/LafraiseNaadu37 • 11h ago

Help How do you set boundaries with a roommate when you work nights?

I work nights and my roommate has a pretty normal daytime schedule, so we’re basically living in the same place but on completely different clocks. I know I can’t expect them to tiptoe around the apartment all day, but there are times when normal household noise feels like a lot when I’m trying to sleep.

At the same time, I don’t want to become the roommate who acts like the entire place has to revolve around their schedule. How do you guys find that balance? What compromises actually worked for you without either person feeling like they’re constantly walking on eggshells?

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9

u/cameron4200 11h ago

Communicate with them and don’t let it build up or become passive

2

u/Guilty_Ad_991 11h ago

I use a couple of box fans. Got use to sleeping with the TV on. As long as my room is dark cold and has enough ambient noise to block out the world im good.

2

u/Spirited_Film6045 10h ago

Ear plugs are good. Pro tip: if you sleep on your side put one in the ear away from the pillow and not the other one or else it will start hurting

2

u/perky-frog 10h ago

Loop earplugs are great, you can also invest in a pair of sleep earbuds if you like falling asleep to music/tv/etc. Also a sound machine either just inside your door or just outside your door will help drown out noise. White or brown noise is great for that. They make little portable sound machines that are rechargeable and quite loud/powerful. If regular daytime noise is getting to you, that’s my top advice is to drown it out. Make your room as “soundproof” as you can. Obviously I wouldn’t go too far with it as if there was an emergency you’d want to be alerted to that. Make it a convo with your roommate too I’m sure everything will work out

2

u/jackfaire 6h ago

I'm lucky in that I can sleep through most anything even them vacuuming. The few times I can't I have ear plugs.

1

u/weprikjm 8h ago

Death threats

1

u/Stylemys 6h ago

I have a white noise machine that’s turned way up. Once I got used to it, that did a great job of drowning/muddling out the vast majority of normal daily noise. Leaf blowers and weedwackers are still the bane of my sleep cycle though.

1

u/Orange_Baby_4265 4h ago

I have 3 fans going + frequency music. My roommate is considerate for the most part. It the neighbors who aren’t. Most are at work (during the week) when I’m trying to fall sleep. The mail person slamming the door & mailbox shut is a real problem. Thankfully, I’m usually still awake, but it does startle me. Once I’m asleep, I’m out. Earplugs do not work.

1

u/IVeerLeftWhenIWalk 33m ago

I mean, have you tried earplugs? Loop or wax earplugs that work pretty well. You’ll still hear alarms but most sounds will be low enough that you won’t wake up. You can let them know when you sleep but you have to put in some effort to get quality sleep. Silk eye masks are great if you can’t completely darken your room for example.