It depends how long you will be on night shift and whether you want to adjust completely or not. It also depends whether others live with you and/or whether you need/want to continue to do anything during the daylight hours when you are off.

If you are trying to adjust completely, I find it helps to start a few days before starting night shift just staying up a little later each night. This will get you a little tired out. Then, the day before night shift stay up all night, or as close enough to all night as you can. Go to sleep at 7 or 8 am. Sleep as long as possible. You may still wake up at noon or 2 pm. That's OK, get up in that case and work your night shift. You will be tired this first night at some point. When you get home, sleep. Keep doing this. When you are off, stay up at night and sleep during the day.

If you are not trying to adjust completely, do the above but sleep the nights you are in addition to sleeping during the day.

Note: I work 12-hour shifts. The above may vary for you.

Night Shift Fatigue – Have You Ever Got Stuck Behind A House Driving Home After Work?

Driving home after night shift can certainly be a struggle. Apart from getting stuck in traffic congestion created by our ‘Nine-to-Five Cousins’ as they head off to work, the streaming rays of sunshine as they pass through your windscreen can certainly make you want to pry your eyes open with a set of toothpicks!

But have you ever got stuck behind a house driving home after night shift?

A little peculiar? Well I thought so too, until it actually happened.

You see I’d just finished my 2030 – 0430 shift at the airport and I was looking forward to getting home, having a quick shower and tucking myself into my nice comfy bed. I could almost feel the warmth of my donah cover some 20kms from home.

I’m actually quite lucky because I don’t have to travel too far to get to work, so just like any other day I left the airport and headed over the Gateway Bridge embarking on my journey home.

Now you can understand my dismay when I got stuck behind a house that was being moved during the night (or the very early hours of the morning – depending on which way you look at it), as I crossed the bridge on my way home.

Thanks to the gigantic ‘Wide Load’ sign that was fixated to the back of the house, and the multiple police cars that were kindly escorting it to its destination, there was no way that I was going to be able to sneakily overtake this house, as it spanned the entire width of the bridge.

So as a “law abiding citizen”, I followed this house over the bridge at snails pace, and all I could think about was how I longed to jump into my nice comfy bed, rest my weary head on my pillow and nod off into the Land of Zeds.

So my advice for you today is that the next time you’re on your way home after night shift, pack an extra supply of snacks, a travel mug and your favourite CD’s to listen too.  

Even better if you can carry an extra bottle of water, because dehydration really increases your fatigue. 

I've certainly learned that it’s always good to be prepared just in case you get stuck in a traffic jam, a typhoon, a snow storm, or in my case – behind a house!

As shift workers, we all know there is nothing worse then being tired AND hungry, as you embark on your journey home after night shift.

P.S: Oh, and you might want to keep a pack of Wet Wipes stored in your car to give your face a once over. Along with winding your window down – this and the fresh air really works a treat at helping you stay awake! 

Need more help with shift work?  Then I recommend you read an article called - “Why Shift Workers Are So Tired, Unhealthy & Unhappy!” 

This Free Report is a hands on report written from one shift worker to another and it’s going to open your eyes to a completely different way of coping with constant fatigue and tiredness. Click Here For Instant Access to Your Healthy Shift Worker Free Report

About the Author

Audra is a Shift Work and Airline Veteran based in Brisbane, Australia. She is the author and creator of 'The Healthy Shift Worker' - a website designed to help educate, motivate and inspire shift workers to lead a healthy and happy life with plenty of laughter!