Tips and gifts for partner who is working overnight shifts?
September 23, 2024 7:09 AM Subscribe
My boyfriend (who lives with me) recently changed careers to respiratory therapy and will be working three 12-hour overnight shifts a week. I'd like to gift him a few things to help with this transition but neither of us really know what to expect. Any suggestions?
I think we (mostly) have a plan for ourselves and the pets, so this is more focused on things that will help him either at work or at home when he's adjusting to this schedule. I was thinking about snack containers with healthy snacks (he's said that eating a full meal at 2 am seems odd), or something similar. I usually work from home, so maybe noise-cancelling earbuds that he can sleep in? A sign on the door so that nobody knocks and makes the dog bark? Any and all ideas are welcome!
I think we (mostly) have a plan for ourselves and the pets, so this is more focused on things that will help him either at work or at home when he's adjusting to this schedule. I was thinking about snack containers with healthy snacks (he's said that eating a full meal at 2 am seems odd), or something similar. I usually work from home, so maybe noise-cancelling earbuds that he can sleep in? A sign on the door so that nobody knocks and makes the dog bark? Any and all ideas are welcome!
White noise machine and true blackout shades/curtains for the bedroom. Personally, I can't really sleep with sleep masks or earbuds, and if you're in your own home it's easy enough to do this at a room level rather than a person level.
posted by mskyle at 7:46 AM on September 23 [4 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 7:46 AM on September 23 [4 favorites]
I did this about 25 years ago - technology might be better now…
I always ran a fan to keep ambient noise down.
I put foil over the windows of the bedroom to keep light out.
I am interested in where this question goes, because I recently found myself back on shift work, doing 12 hour shifts, rotating two weeks night and two weeks day, and working 7 days out of 14 days. I am trying to figure out the best way to do this for my own household!
posted by kabong the wiser at 8:19 AM on September 23
I always ran a fan to keep ambient noise down.
I put foil over the windows of the bedroom to keep light out.
I am interested in where this question goes, because I recently found myself back on shift work, doing 12 hour shifts, rotating two weeks night and two weeks day, and working 7 days out of 14 days. I am trying to figure out the best way to do this for my own household!
posted by kabong the wiser at 8:19 AM on September 23
As best I can remember from a paper I read on shift work long ago, eat a proper meal for “supper” even if it’s in the middle of the night; making up a sleep deficit by sleeping in on your day off doesn’t work. In fact it’s better to keep to the same awake/sleep schedule on your days off and admittedly that’s very hard on relationships and family. Rotating shifts are really, really hard.
I’m sure there are more current papers online with more advice. Also I’d probably disconnect the doorbell because there’s always people who think a “day-sleeper” notice doesn’t apply to them.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:57 AM on September 23 [2 favorites]
I’m sure there are more current papers online with more advice. Also I’d probably disconnect the doorbell because there’s always people who think a “day-sleeper” notice doesn’t apply to them.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:57 AM on September 23 [2 favorites]
If he can keep a "day light" at his desk, it will help his body rhythm.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 9:41 AM on September 23
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 9:41 AM on September 23
Definitely the Manta eye mask or great blackout shades. I respond well to melatonin if I need to shift my sleep schedule in ways that feel unnatural. Some folks like a little CBD/THC, so that might feel like a nice gift too. He'll probably want to switch a proper meal in the middle of the night, but I know a lot of providers live the "every meal is breakfast" life when on overnights.
posted by advicepig at 10:17 AM on September 23
posted by advicepig at 10:17 AM on September 23
Ugh, I hated working overnights. Blackout shades with blackout curtains over them are a big help.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:21 AM on September 23
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:21 AM on September 23
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https://www.amazon.com/Manta-Sleep-Mask-Adjustable-Deepest-Possible/dp/B07PRG2CQY
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 7:18 AM on September 23 [5 favorites]