Tips on the Trade: Relaxing After Midnight Shifts

07/19/11: A PSW shares how they ‘come down’ after awake midnight shifts

This blog entry is from one of our staff personal support workers. They work exclusive midnight shifts. Here are a few of their tips for relaxing and getting to sleep after an awake midnight shift is completed.

A nice relaxing warm shower personally gets me ready for a nap

With most midnight shifts ending when the sun is just or is already up, darkening out your bedroom with blinds, a blanket over the window, etc helps create a good sleeping atmosphere.

I have an Ipod dock in my room. I hook it up to internet radio (Soma FM?s Drone Zone) or other white noise or ambient music. This helps me ?chill?, and speeds up my ability to go to sleep.

Simple enough. Avoid coffee, high caffeine, teas, energy drinks during the final hour of a shift. It makes getting to sleep much easier.

Nothing to earth shattering. Find something border lining on fluff that doesn?t stimulate the brain too much.

Depending on how your body functions (mine gets tired and sleepy) considering doing some exercise. A walk, jog, or the gym usually does the trick.

Say hello to who you need to and then get right into bed. Obviously this is more difficult for those with family members, kids, pets etc that crave attention.

Building on the last point, if you do have family members, set some guidelines. A midnight shift shouldn?t run your life. Depending on what you and your family need, set rules such as meal time, activity time, a strict sleep or quiet time, etc