IV caffeine!! (sm)
Posted By: Another night MQer on 2005-07-20
In Reply to: With the heat, I'm going to try nights - Yet Another MQer
It might take a little while for your body clock to get used to working nights, but eventually it will switch.
It actually happened to me the same way as you. My air conditioning broke and out of pure necessity I switched over to nights. This was before scheduling was requested, so I basically started working when the sun went down for as long as I could.
Five years later and with a/c I made many attempts to try to get back on a "day" schedule to no avail. When they started asking for schedules, I just decided to go with nights. Why fight it?
Tips? Hmmm... At first I'd take little cat naps at my desk when I felt like I couldn't keep my eyes open and that worked pretty well.
If I feel myself getting drowsy, I walk around a bit.
I keep the TV on (no sound) and it seems like just glancing at it every once in a while helps the time go more quickly. Don't ask me why. At 3:30 a.m. I watch game show network (What's My Line). It helps to perk me up because it's so cool to see the B&W oldies. After it's over, I only have about 3 hours left which goes pretty quickly.
Be sure you do sleep long enough when you go to bed in the morning and at first try to take a 45-minute nap about an hour or 2 before you sign on at night.
Another thing that helps me now is that it's summer and my daughter stays up all night too. It helps to know I'm not the only one conscious in the house (less lonely?). She doesn't bother me or anything, but it's nice I can hear her music or visit her if I need a break.
Okay, this break is up! LOL.
Good luck!
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
No, not anything but caffeine
I don't even take my B vitamins because even they are known to make me tired! Even when I take a migraine relief capsule I get tired. Does the 45 minute nap give you the second wind? Maybe I could try that instead of struggling. Sometimes I think the coffee makes me even more tired. Tonight I am trying water and it is working a bit better. I am going to try opening a window. Afraid the radio or TV would wake up the family even though I am in another room! Thanks for your help.
Does green tea have caffeine? nm
x
None. I try to avoid caffeine.
nm
Caffeine is addictive and...
I finally got off of caffeine. I had a hard several days with horrible headaches and just almost feeling hung over. I know I was having caffeine withdrawls, but I stopped drinking it because of having thyroid issues and having PVCs. I will tell you this... Just because you think you shouldn't be tired because you sit all day and type and do reports, does not mean you can't experience extreme fatigue in doing so. I worked in a casino for 13 years and did nothing but stand and walk. I made the transition to strictly working from home a year ago, and I really believe this work makes me more tired than the casino ever did. I find it is hard for me to focus sometimes as well while working. I find my mind wonders and focuses on things I need to be doing besides transcribing and it is very irritating. I know how you feel little lady. :)
Paulette
caffeine motivation
ok I feel sooo unmotivated to work even when I am right in front of my computer. I am just off task, thinking about other things. I lack the focus and brain energy to type. When I drink strong coffee or energy drinks, I am way more focused and productive. I enjoy typing and get lots done when I have been using caffeine. What is going on here?
Caffeine is also highly addictive
I love the stuff!!!! Caffeine doesn't necessarily make you feel better, though, it just makes you feel less bad. That's something I read somewhere that always struck a chord with me. I'm not fit to speak to until I've had at least a hit of caffeine in the morning and don't even start on the headaches I'll get if for some reason I go a day or two without it.
Do you take vitamins on a regular basis? Despite the so called research that says that vitamins don't really do that much, I have found that if I go for several days without taking my supplements then I get really draggy and have a horrible time focusing. If I remember to take them, then I do pretty well and have a much easier time focusing and getting work done.
Unlike right now when I should get started working and am playing on this board. 
Doc says to cut out caffeine completely- and I hate the Decaf. nm
nm
black tea has just a tiny bit of caffeine, to help in weaning...
x
Energy drinks. Caffeine and sugar, sm
and all kinds of vitamins. I like the Sobe one. I even drink it in the morning now, instead of coffee.
Caffeine and sugar had negative effect
My experience with trying to remain alert during 3rd shift: I was trying to perk myself up with caffeine and sugar, but also found that I actually became MORE tired as a result. Apparently, there's a biochemical explanation for this, due to the effect of caffeine and sugar on my insulin/blood sugar response. Both caffeine and sugar cause an initial rise in blood sugar, but then a serious slump in blood sugar occurs, causing me to be even more tired than before. So, I gave up the coffee and, after 3 days of withdrawal symptoms with horrendous headaches and fatigue, am having much more success staying awake during 3rd shift. I have also found that a protein drink or snack is a much better solution. Also, I am told that there are stimulants that do not affect the central nervous system as caffeine does, such as guarana, which I have not tried yet.
Also, it took me at least six weeks to adjust my body clock. I figured out that I had to sleep at the same time every day for several hours, at least 7, and couldn't just take a few naps during the day and then expect to stay awake at night.
The only reason I choose to work at night is because the pay is better; otherwise, I wouldn't do it. I look forward to someday having a decent account with a decent pay with a 24-hour turnaround time. I realize this is a fantasy.
|
