Advice needed from fellow night shift people

[perfectbluebuildings]

I am tired of disappointing people.

I have worked night shift for several years now, and while this has always been an issue, it's gotten worse in the past couple of years I would say. I try so hard to get myself back on a day schedule on days off so that I can visit my family and be awake with them and do things with them. I live alone and am at least two hours' drive away from everyone in my family, and in several cases quite a bit farther, so it takes some doing to see them and requires that I have had enough sleep to be able to drive. All too often, I get there later than planned because I couldn't sleep till early in the morning, and then when I am there, I just can't sleep when they do and am up reading a book at 3 in the morning and tired when we are out doing things. Or else I am there a day later or don't go at all because I just get so wound up and can't sleep and am not safe to drive.

I know it is good to keep on the same night shift schedule on time off as much as possible, but realistically when dealing with the majority of the world, and seeing family that don't live nearby, this doesn't always work.

I guess what set me off to post this thread is that I am going to see a sister in the morning who lives out of town; we have a weekend planned to hang out together and do some things. I worked last night 12 hours, and then stayed up almost all day in an attempt to reset my body to sleep tonight; was awake all told well over 24 hours by the time I crashed this evening. But two hours after I fell asleep, I was up and now cannot sleep again; it's like it's "my time" to be awake whether I have had any sleep or not. I am just frustrated.

Other occasions, I have tried just leaving very early in the morning after being up all night, but then I am exhausted when I get there. Other times, I get there in the evenings (not even that late in the evening) and people are (understandably) ready to go to bed in about an hour after I get there while I am raring to go. I feel like I am missing time with the people who are important to me, and disappointing them as well. I love night shift and have always been an evening/night person, even before nursing, and do not wish to change to a day shift position at my facility for a variety of other reasons as well; so going to a day shift job at this point is a last resort, though I know that will be some folks' first suggestion.

But what is the best way for me to reset on a day off so that I can make planned trips to the people I love, and make the most of them?? Any and all suggestions welcome. I have a thick skin so don't worry about sugar coating things. I am especially looking for practical, concrete strategies of things I can do.

[JenRN30, BSN]

When people go to a new time zone they are often told to use melatonin to "reset" their internal time clock and then go to sleep. I wonder if this would work for you? I would read about taking melatonin. Your body makes it when the son goes down and they recommend it for people that work shift work to help them sleep. My husband uses it when he needs to sleep during the day, he is a horrible sleeper. Their are some other natural supplements you can take as well. I would use this to take when you should be sleeping and then you should be able to get some sleep, enjoy the time with your family, then take the melatonin again to reset your clock back to the time you need again.

hope this helps.

angels mommy.

I recently switched from taking benadryl to melatonin, and it works great! When I get off after 3 days, I'll go to sleep as usual and wake up between 1 and 3. Then I'll take melatonin around 10pm, be asleep by 10:30 or 11pm, and wake up the next morning ready to go. It's been working out really well for me. OP, I hope you can get this figured out because I know how frustrating it can be.

[mediatix8]

I've taken melatonin for years. I know you really aren't supposed to use it that long, as I don't think it's been tested for long term use, but it's too awesome for me to stop. I feel very well rested. Not everyone has that experience... some people do feel too groggy. But for others such as myself, it works great. And even if I take it 5 hours before I have to get up, I'm not groggy like how I'd be if I take nyquil. And on my days off I always sleep at least a couple of hours at night. I'm not too worried about maintaining a consistent schedule because the melatonin works so good.