[Smokey Hayes]

My best advice for anybody who is working the third shift is...stop it!

Shift work is okay short-term but it is unhealthy and you will never get enough sleep to feel normal. You will hear a few people say that they prefer working the hoot owl shift - don't believe them!

If you must work third shift, get a good sleep mask that blocks as much light as possible. Buy some good quality ear plugs as well. Make your bedroom as dark as possible, throw an extra quilt on your bed, and turn down your thermostat a few degrees.

Also, get in the habit of getting into bed as soon as possible after your shift ends. If you don't, you risk falling into a pattern of sleeping into the evening and then wondering where the day went. It is important to try to stick to a normal schedule where you have a few hours of leisure time before going to work again.