Resist the temptation of the vending machine by bringing a stash of healthy snacks to work. Junk food and soda pop will give you a burst of energy followed by the dreaded sugar crash. If you have trouble staying asleep for eight hours in the middle of the day, try breaking your sleep time into two four- to five-hour blocks with a three- to four-hour period of wakefulness in between. Set a bedtime and a wake-up time and stick to this schedule. However, you need to make sleep a top priority. Get Enough SleepĮspecially when you are working non-traditional hours, you may find yourself staying up late (or early) to run errands, spend time with friends and family or watch TV. Here are six tips to help you stay awake and alert. But if you are working late hours, your sleep schedule can be even more of a challenge.
Trying to stay awake at work full#
Working your first night shift requires a bit of an adjustment, but once you develop a routine that works for you, it can be a shift full of learning experience and opportunities.Everyone gets tired on the job at some point. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Your body likes routine, so developing a schedule and sticking to it will help you adjust quicker. Creating a comfortable sleep space, one that’s dark, quiet and cool, can help you relax into a good day’s rest. Convincing your body to sleep during the day can be a challenge, especially if you are surrounded by reminders that it’s not night time. Tips for getting a good sleep in during the day But try to avoid drinking coffee, tea or fizzy drinks that contain caffeine later on in your shift, as they can make it difficult for you to fall asleep when you get home – thereby interrupting your sleep cycle. Having a caffeinated drink before you begin your shift or earlier on into the night can help keep you alert and focused. You also may be able to discuss difficulties that you’re having with the night shift transition and share tips for coping with the changes. Keeping your mind active with conversation will prevent you from dozing off. Keeping your body moving will keep your blood flowing and mind awake. When you have downtime during your shift, don’t just sit there. A change in your sleep pattern can make your digestive system more sensitive, and large meals can be more difficult to digest than lighter snacks. Eating small snacks throughout your working “night” will help keep your energy up. Instead of eating a giant meal right before your 12 hours on the ward, pack healthy snacks to eat throughout the night. Eat small portions throughout the shift.Short periods of rest will help keep your energy high, but be sure not to sleep too long or you’ll risk making yourself groggy. Take a 30 minute nap before your shift begins and, if possible, try to get in a few 10-20 minute naps throughout the night. Tips for staying awake and alert during your shift
It will take a bit of getting used to, but once you get in the habit, the night shift is not nearly as daunting as it may first seem.
If you find yourself losing steam midway through the shift, unable to focus on your work, or counting down the minutes until you can go home and crawl into bed, you may need to adjust your approach to the shift, or to your daytime sleep routine. Your body is naturally programmed to be awake during the day and asleep at night, so it can take time getting used to the new routine.Ī night shift may come with long periods of inactivity, and it can be difficult to remain alert and focused while your body is adjusting to the new schedule. Your first time working the night shift can be a difficult adjustment to overcome. Follow these tips to help ease the transition Sudden changes to your sleep patterns can be tough on your body and mind.
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