MMJ#89586 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Howdy, Well I've worked nights for 12 years and now I have changed to day shift. But I can't get to sleep. I thought I would check and see if anyone has any tips on sleeping at night; I guess my brain has forgot how to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascade Charlie, SASS # 48668L Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I just had to find the right sleeping pill. It took awhile and still doesn't work sometimes but it helps me. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Read the Bible. I was told along time ago that on sleepness nights, its the Devil trying to mess with ya and ifn ya start to read the Bible, he'll leave ya alone and sleep will come. Anyhow, just a suggestion. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSIops Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Hmm, there are a few methods. -I dont know what type of shape your in, but exercise is always good. I'm fit enough and like to run sometime in the day to get that little extra energy to sluff off of me. Even a walk around the block is pretty decent followed by a good shower. -Also sometimes I read, not a magazine, but an actual book. A book that I have no "investment" in, just something I can pop open every once and awhile and not care whether or not I ever finish. -Try and keep your body used to a routine, and try to "prepare" for sleep at least a few hours before. i.e don't go from welding in the garage to head on the pillow in 20 minutes. Your body and your mind just won't be ready to sleep. I'm sure you already know all this. There area few things however I totally like to avoid that tend to keep me up no matter what. TV, Computer, Sitting up, being hungry, being stressed - so I try to avoid all those things by the end of a solid day. Now comes the unhealthy ways - night caps and night snacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocDisaster # 45431 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I spent 16 years on midnights it took awhile to get used to falling asleep and sleeping through the night. It will take sometime to reverse your clock. See if you can get the Dr. to prescribe Lunesta it is very mild and will just take away some of the edgeness. My sleep patterns have been really messed up for about the last year because I had been in so much pain with my back I could never get comfortable. I have a little over a week before I go back to work post operatively. My sleep patterns have really been screwy I have been up till 1-2a and then sleep till 10a. I need to get back into the swing of getting up at 5a.... Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Bad Bob Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Read the Bible. I was told along time ago that on sleepness nights, its the Devil trying to mess with ya and ifn ya start to read the Bible, he'll leave ya alone and sleep will come. Anyhow, just a suggestion. ..........Widder I think that works best when you read the book of "Numbers". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Trampas, SASS # 55781 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I worked for 16 years from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am, then switched to the day part, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, it takes awhile to get used to this routine, but you will, hang in there, your body will adjust over time All for now JD Trampas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madd Mike #8595 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 sex-drugs-rock&roll just kidding you will git used to it dont eat just before ya go to bed that dont work for me as I age Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Generally it will take 2-6 weeks for your body to adjust to a schedule change like that. Be patient. Try to avoid anything stimulating before bed like TV, food, etc. The body is a creature of habit and it just needs to get used to the new habit of sleeping at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Neeley Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 With my eyes closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Howdy, Well I've worked nights for 12 years and now I have changed to day shift. But I can't get to sleep. I thought I would check and see if anyone has any tips on sleeping at night; I guess my brain has forgot how to do this. I've had bouts of insomnia all of my life. I've learned not to lose any sleep over it. Seriously, if I can't sleep, rather than allow THAT to annoy me, I get back up and do something. When I feel sleepy, I go back to bed. Generally the next night I will sleep better. It is only when you allow yourself to get into a track that says "I HAVE TO SLEEP", and try to force the issue are ya in real trouble. If I don't get to sleep until 5AM, get up at 7 and get on with the day, maybe I catnap at lunch and just don't sweat it. The flip side is I have learned you actually can get by on very little sleep for several days if need be, before the body calls for the recoupment. I can drive 1500 miles after being up all day before starting out, only catnapping once or twice on the way, sleep a few hours, then do the return 1500 mile run...... When I get where I am reallly tired (after maybe 3 or 4 days like that), I'll go to bed at 6PM and sleep 14 hours. Usually it'll be weeks before I have a bout with no sleep after that. The body will adjust YOU, forget trying to adjust it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Hey Pard, Glad you are working days now. Being awake when the sun shines is good. I've found what NSlops says about books works. A really good book will keep you awake. A so-so book is a sure trip to sleep. As MM says, YMMV. Hubby uses Ambien. Pain keeps him awake. Regards, Allie Mo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMJ#89586 Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 Thanks everybody! Sounds like the big thing is, it will just take time. My big problem is I think I'm tryin to force myself a sleep and by the way it sounds that don't work. I'm just going to go with the flo and see what happens. Thanks Again! MMJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefro, SASS#69420 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I have often gone through bouts of insomnia, even more so when my back is hurting. Lunesta works, but I try not to take it if I can help it. I use one of those things that covers your eyes, turn on a movie I've seen a hunderd times like Tall T, and I'm usually asleep in about 20 minutes. Also cat naps in the afternoon will help you feel rested. Good Luck Jefro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nichols Creek, SASS #77627 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Stay awake for about 24+ hours straight. Then go to bed. It works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Shorty, SASS #35717 Life Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Ambien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Phil DeGrave SASS #55202 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 EVERCLEAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Madd Mike mentioned on variable that always works in my house........ S E X ! yep, everytime I'm in the mooooood, the Bunk House Boss goes to sleep. Works everytime for her! ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Try a couple of melatonin pills 30 minutes before you lay down and keep away from anything "stimulating" during that time. Except maybe sex... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I used to have insomnia pretty bad until I saw a news report that caffiene can affect some people for over 12 hours. As an experiment I quit drinking sweet tea at lunch, and my sleeping problems went away almost instantly. Now, I refrain from caffiene except in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Be real careful with Ambien. While it will knock ya out, you may suffer some weird, even dangerous side effects (folks have been known to get up, even drive their car, and not remember, essentially sleep walking/sleep driving, etc). I'd consider it a total last resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go West Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Try reading lawyer-speak or some legislation from your state. In a few minutes, you'll be sleeping like a baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Sleep? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Woodrow Cahill, SASS # 54363 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 +1 to what Chief Rick suggests with the melatonin. It's the same stuff your brain makes, and basically tells itself "it's dark - time for sleep". You can find it in the vitamin aisle at any good drugstore. I work swing shifts - sometimes days, sometimes afternoons, sometimes overnights and it's been a godsend in helping me get to sleep. I'd stay away from any of the big pharma sleeping pills. The side effects range from weird dreams, sleepwalking, to suicidal thoughts. To hell with all that. And there's the old standby - a glass of warm milk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 For my 25 year career (now out on disability) I always worked shift work. The one shift I feared from the start was dayshift due to me having to wake to an alarm. Mids and Swings I just woke when I woke with NO alarm clock, pretty neat. But towards the end of the 25 (the last seven years) my wife was having real difficulty with our three kids giving her no end of trouble so I had to make the move to dayshift to get the wayward kids into the house at a decent hour in the evening. At first the Doc gave me some Lunesta which I only used for about a month until I got my schedule turned around. I got so set to the new schedule in that months time that I practically did not need an alarm since I was waking at 04:30 naturally every morning. I'm sure you have flipped back and forth between Mids and Swings. It's really no different going to Days, just a learning curve that you have to get used to and then you will be all set. I ended up going to bed at 20:00 hours so that wasn't too bad. Now when I had to work a 12 I would have to go to bed at 16:00 hours and that was plain odd to say the least that and waking up around midnight. Admittingly I never really ever got used to that one. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uno Mas SASS #80082 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 . I wear headphones to bed and set the iPod sleep timer to 30 minutes. Usually listen to a history or astronomy podcast. Out like a light in five minutes. If that doesn't work, a couple of Benadryls and two fingers of Port help too. ;^)' Careful with the Ambien, it's starting to get a rep for causing sleep walking, sleep driving, shopping, jogging, and in one case: nekid car washing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Pony Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 MMJ when at the PD we looked at studies on shift work and the effect changing shifts had on folks, with the idea of going from rotating to long term set shifts, 1 year duration. There is a lot of information about going forward or backwards on the clock, how long you need to be off before you are fully up to speed etc. Pretty much it all came down to setting routine and following it, eating right, staying away from caffiene, and exercise like has been posted here plus the fact that your body will adjust over a period of time and reset your internal clock. After about 7 years on midnights I went to a three nights, two 4-12s and that was a killer for awhile but the transition to straight days shifts was worse for about 2 weeks. My own experience was NOT to go home after an 8-4 and take a nap no matter how tired I was. Staying up and active until about an hour before "bed time" taking a hot shower then hitting the rack worked. Right now I have a feeling going back to midnights would be near impossible for me as my body alarm clock goes off at 0530 regardless. Good luck and do your best to gut it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fontana Vic, SASS #47940 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Read the Bible. I was told along time ago that on sleepness nights, its the Devil trying to mess with ya and ifn ya start to read the Bible, he'll leave ya alone and sleep will come. Anyhow, just a suggestion. ..........Widder +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Dog, SASS #20401 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Why would anyone want to sleep at night? Don't you know you get your throat cut sleeping at night? Think Marlon Brando in Missouri Breaks. "know what woke you up?..." I have always been a night owl. I remember as a kid lying in bed for hours listening to KOMA while everyone else was snoring. In the Nam, Charlie was afraid to come out except at night, so of course I stayed up all night with Ma Deuce to welcome him. Let the other boys sleep. I have worked midnights almost my entire LE career. I work 11 to 7 and usually stay up til noon then try to sleep til 8P. Only thing is I never really sleep right or good. My bladder wakes me up at least 5 or 6 times. Then today I couldn't sleep so I got up early and here I am perusing the ole Wire. Sleeping is over-rated, but I sure wish I could do more of it and do it better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Rose, SASS #45478 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Still trying to get used to sleeping at night after being retired for 6 years. I found that a couple of Benadryl helps. For years it was the most used sleeping aid in hospitals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madd Mike #8595 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 good point made above if sex is out of the picture read the SASS rule book it wont hurt none, and I'll betcha, ya will fall a sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Old Man Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Sometimes it never changes much. About 6 yrs ago, I worked 2 full time jobs, got up at 2:30 5 days a week. Still wake around 2 almost every morning, up between 4 & 5 now. Don't very often have a good nights sleep, but naps are GOOD!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Trina, SASS #59582L Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Melatonin and some device that makes some constant "white" noise. We use a pedestal fan on a low setting every night all year round. Now I can't sleep without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Bill, SASS #4942 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Howdy, Well I've worked nights for 12 years and now I have changed to day shift. But I can't get to sleep. I thought I would check and see if anyone has any tips on sleeping at night; I guess my brain has forgot how to do this. What you do is sleep on the job, then prowl all night. That will soon get you squared away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 One thing fer dang sure, dunt listen to that idiot Bill Maher before you "try" to go to sleep!!!!!!! what a goofballl!!!!! Cheyenne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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