Best ways to get back on day schedule from working nights?

[kukukajoo, LPN]

I am stuck in night shift mode and it's killing me!

It all started just before finals- I did late night studying in prep for a couple overnite awake shifts of newborn nannying I began the same nite as our last school day, then that was followed by heading right into a simple surgery that was painful and I got stuck on nights and here I am just trying to motivate at 2pm! My clock is totally backwards worse than it ever was! Usually I was able to take a catnap after the last night shift and then go to sleep just an hour or two early that night and be right back on track, but not this time!

Any tips and tricks to get back on a day routine fast? Next week I start early classes and have over 8 hours classtime every single day and am dreading the thought of it! Nevermind that I have errands to run and things I need to get done now, not at night!

Thanking you in advance for all your tips and suggestions and help!

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

Try to stay up all day and forget about the catnap. Drink a little coffee or tea at "catnap time" if you need to. Then, go to bed a few hours early that night. After staying up all day you could likely sleep from 6P-5A or 6A. Plan on doing nothing the day you stay up all day. You will probably be too tired to get anything done that day anyway.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Thanks, will try that today. No nap will be hard.

I am also trying to get a good walk in later which should tire me out good since there is TONS of snow up here in NH! Spent most of the last 2 weeks in bed and the exercise and fresh air is sure to get me good and tired!!

Then I am planning on taking the tree down and ripping through my first floor! It is so messy I bet I have to empty the vacuum a couple times before all the floors are done! I am HOPING that it will tire me out. I am having coffee now, but no more after after 4pm, as that may be contributing to my nocturnal life a tad.

If I get one of the above accomplished, I will be happy camper!

I think I need to recreate a bedtime ritual and stick to it as well. At 930 tonite, laptop goes OFF for the night!

Thanks and happy new year!