Bupa's tips for night shifts

Wear sunglasses on the way home during sunny weather, so the brightness doesn't stimulate your brain.

Wear sunglasses on the way home during sunny weather, so the brightness doesn't stimulate your brain.

Avoid heavy, greasy food after midnight and before bed. Try to have breakfast at breakfast time, even if you are coming in from work.

Even if it feels odd when everyone else is getting up, adapt a normal pre-bed routine - don't be tempted to nap on the couch.

Install black-out blinds in your bedroom.

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Block outside noise with a fan or a "white noise" device or wear earplugs.

Turn off the doorbell and phone. Buy a pager so close friends and family can contact you in an emergency.

If you really can't sleep in the morning, try in the afternoons before work instead, but make sure you leave yourself enough time.

Don't be tempted by tranquilisers. They might help in the short term but not as a way of coping with shifts because they're addictive.

If your shifts jump around, give yourself at least one quiet day to recover after coming off one shift pattern. If the hours are regular, keep a similar routine on days off by sleeping in late, going to bed late and/or sleeping part of the day.

Always tell your doctor you work shifts before they prescribe medication because it might make you drowsy.