Switch in schedule.

[Harpua3]

So with this new job I recently got my schedule has got turned upside down. I used to work hrs like 2 pm to 10 pm. Well,now I'm working hrs like 6 or 7 am til 4 or 5 pm. Any tips on how to adjust to a completely new sleep/live/work schedule? First day here we go! I should get off the toilet/Internet and get into gear now!

[Bullwinkle]

Just suffer through the first week and keep telling yourself that your body will adjust in time.

Also, don't go back to your old schedule on the weekend.

[Clanwolfer]

Yep. The human mind is pretty incredible, it can adjust to damn near anything within about 2 weeks. I would say don't be afraid to use short naps to get yourself into the right rhythm - you'll lose some of 'your' time in off-hours, but it really can help. Plus, naps are awesome.

[Roman]

disagree on the naps idea - for me its a deal breaker on weekdays. Naps on the weekend are a good idea.

[wonderpug]

This is pretty much the same situation as jet lag.  I just force myself to get onto the new schedule immediately.  If I need to take a nap to make it to a proper bedtime, I set an alarm and make sure it's less than an hour long.  If the shift goes the other way, where I wouldn't be sleepy at the proper bedtime, I try and limit my sleep a night prior to force myself to be sleepy at the proper time.

[Purge]

Binaural Beats helps me. :shrug:

[morlac]

I have been working a night shift for the last two weeks.  Went from working 6 am to 2:30ish pm (getting up around 4:30) to working a 5 pm to 3:30 am shift 4 days a week.  It's been brutal, especially with a 3 year old that I have to get up early with on the weekends.  I''m now mostly use to it but this could be my last week so making the transition back over the weekend will be interesting.  I will be a grumpy bastard for sure.

[Harpua3]

Well, so far so good. It's kind of crazy that my wake time now is only 2 or 3 hrs later than my bedtime was for years.. Thankfully Incan get by on 5 hrs sleep until I adjust.

[RuperT]

You Mayan want to take down your blackout shades, too!

[CeeKay]

You Mayan want to take down your blackout shades, too!

but he had to Sioux them himself.  he even attached Apache or two when they got torn.

[zinckiwi]

I find I can get up at any time as long as I have Aztec of pancakes to kick off the day.