By Prepare for your shift by drinking some coffee or other caffeinated beverage (if that’s your thing), and pack a variety of light, nutritious food—plus a sweater. You’ll need to eat sometime during the night, but since your body isn’t used to eating at night, small, frequent snacks (a banana here, some yogurt there) will sit better than a large meal. The sweater will come in handy around 2 a.m., when your core body temperature drops in response to your circadian rhythm.
After your shift, spend some time unwinding, then devote the day to sleep. Invest in room-darkening shades, turn off the phone and refuse to answer the door. If you wake up after a couple of hours, lie in bed for a while instead of jumping out of bed. You just might doze off again, and your body really does need the sleep.
Some experts say that shorter rotations—three to four days versus seven or more—are easier on the body. Whatever the length of your rotation, try to build in ample recovery time before moving back to days. Working nights, getting home at 8 a.m. and then reporting to work the next morning at 7 is just too hard on the body. Try asking for a three- or four-day stretch to readjust before moving back to days.
