Question for people who work night shift

[aubriee]

I work 11pm-7am and have for years. I normally stay awake in the mornings and go to sleep about 2:00pm everyday (even on my days off). I've found that at WDW I still get sleepy around 2:00pm every day and still wake up wanting to eat my dinner about 2:00am (no matter, what time I go to bed or eat dinner down there). Any other people work night shift and have the same problem?

 

[WildGrits]

I'm a 3rd shifter too. But I never make it past 11:30am before I'm asleep. I hardly ever make it past 9am.

This will be my first time to WDW since starting this shift.

In the past I am on such a Disney high while there that by 9pm I am out cold. Yeah, so much for going out for a few with my hubby.

I'm really hoping I do a better job pacing myself this time. I kind of doubt it though.

 

[chach]

I'm working 3rd shift right now. I haven't had any problems readjusting my sleeping habits once I'm in Florida.

 

[dcforbreakfast]

I'm not quite overnights, but I get up at 3am for work...I would use the afternoon breaks for a big nap and if you can take two or three days off prior to vacation to get some regular sleep. That might help.

 

[Snow_White]

I'm not quite overnights, but I get up at 3am for work...I would use the afternoon breaks for a big nap

I really think this is a great suggestion, referring to the afternoon naps when you're on vacation. I also work nights and I basically just force my body into a "normal" schedule when we're at WDW. The first day is always rough, but by the second day I'm a little better. Also, OP, I know what you mean about getting hungry late at night. I highly recommend stopping at the food court after you come home from the parks for the day and getting a second late dinner of some sort. Granted, it won't be 2 am, but maybe it will help. This works for us.

 

[malibuconlee]

I worked nights for a year or so. I suggest taking the night before you leave off. After working your last night shift, go home, lay down and sleep for a few hours. Get up and have dinner with your family, do something during that afternoon/evening hours, then go to bed with everyone else. In the morning you'll have had so much sleep you'll be raring to go. This is what used to work for me.

If you really can't sleep when you get home, lay down for the morning anyway. Then get up and DON'T go back to bed until a "normal" bed time.

My problem wasn't the first day trying to get back to everyone else's schedule, it was going back to a night awake schedule. I'd try to nap before work, but many times couldn't, would go to work and LIVE on Diet Coke.

 

[clandrum]

I also work 3rd shift only I work 10:30pm-8:30am 10 hour shifts. I also take off the night before and try to stay awake the whole day before. That way I am exausted and can sleep the night before the trip where a normally I would be to excited. I have n problem adjusting when I am there mainly becaus we normaly go from 6am to midnight so I just colaspe in the bed. I also take an additional day or two off when I get back just to recover.

 

[motherof4]

I work 12 hour nights, but don't have a problem with turn around on my days off. I work 7-7 so when I get home I go straight to bed and sleep till 2 or 4.
On my last night I only sleep till noon, then I'm good and tired come time for bed. Before trips I make sure I have 2 days off before I go!

 

[eeyoregirl1970]

I work the 3am-12p shift also and my plan is to try to get my body on a normal schedule before we go... there will be heck to pay probably trying to get back into my work schedule, but who wants to think about that?