Where are my night owls at?

[DoyleBingster]

Anyone out there burn the midnight oil?

I currently work 3rd shift as a lab tech, so my sleep schedule can be quite rocky sometimes. Been doing it for about 5 years now, and I can manage to get an adequate amount of sleep about 90% of the time. It's the other 10% that leaves me feeling like death.

Anyone have any tips/methods that help you sleep better when the whole world around you is wide awake?

If I had to put in my two cents, I'd say the best investment is a set of blackout curtains for the bedroom. I've also tried to limit my caffeine intake past a certain part of the morning, and that's helped a lot.

Oh, and feel free to add me as a friend.

[SDboltup17]

Black or dark curtains work really well.  I like to tape mine around the edges to make sure no light gets in at all.

Also, I like to make it cooler in my room via a fan or air conditioner.  Getting cozy under a nice blanket helps me out a lot.  

There are over the counter medications you can try if you are really struggling on a given day.  Any product with diphenhydramine (benadryl) will make you tired if you take it 1 hr before bedtime.  

Sleep at the same time of day.  If 10 30 am is your bedtime for instance, make it your bedtime daily.  

[Sawyermark]

Melatonin has been a godsend for me. You're body produces it naturally when it starts getting dark to make you start getting sleepy. Since we're just getting started then it does us no good. You can buy it at walmart or most pharmacys. My main problem was staying asleep. Once I started taking it I have trouble getting myself to wake up half the time.