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I'm on day 12 of 12 days straight at work, 5 - 12 hour days, 2 - 8 hour days on the weekend and another 5 - 12 hour days which I'm about to wrap up (have to assist in the removal of 3 kidneys today).

I'm getting 6-7 hours sleep per night as I'm also moving house tomorrow so will be up at 5 am to get ready for the removalists.

 

I've tried power naps at work, caffinated drinks and sugar/saturated fat based food but am currently absolutely stuffed and I start work in 10 minutes.

 

Any advice on how to stay awake in a high stress, long hours job?

 

next monday it starts all over again.

Whilst 8+ hours of sleep is an obvious response I can't see it happening in the next few days.

Depends on the job. I worked as a waiter and a barista at the same time (summers between grad school semesters are grand money-saving epics), and I would generally: Work 4am -12pm, nap 12-2, go for a short jog or something, wait tables 4-11/12pm. Rinse, wash, repeat.

The key was staggering days off (make sure I rarely had the same day off each week at both jobs) and a ton of caffiene. Getting excercize helps, because it jolts your nervous system out of its grogginess...though of course, if you overdo it, it only adds to the problems.

What do you do with such deadening shifts, out of curiosity?

-Adso

He's a doctor...of love.

For prostates.

That post gets more delicious with each syllable.

12 hours of professional prostate surgery = 12 years of blackmail photos.

Well...maybe.

-Adso

Stay the hell away from sugar!  Seriously, that'll sap your energy faster'n anything.  Eating healthy in general is the best way to keep your energy up.

A power nap trick: drink a caffeinated soda or small cup of coffee, then IMMEDIATELY take a 15-20 minute nap.  It's very refreshing, and I've seen both scientific and anecdotal evidence back this up.

Get some moderate exercise in; you'll sleep very soundly.

Don't overdo the caffeine either.

Don't commit the Sin of Onan, and sublimate that energy into keeping you going.

Hope this helps.

I run 5-10km every night when I get home (17.10 for 5km because I push it and about 40 minutes for 10km to save my knees)

I'm drinking coke zero (caffeine takes about 40mins to kick in, sugar starts straight away)

BrotherAdso, I'm a doctor, currently doing a very busy urology term so between 100 odd operations per week (the vast majority are minor procedure day cases), a mound of paperwork for my 15-25 inpatients and having to go to preadmission clininc to ensure everything is set for a patient's arrival there is no way you can get out of the hospital in under 12 hours in the day (ideally I'd like to stay for 16 hours, and sleep there overnight to get ahead with things but the wife won't let me )

Maybe you're running TOO hard and burning what energy you have?

Hmm, I've always been under the impression that doctors are forced to take a break every so often to keep errors down.

Definately eat healthy. Everytime I need to go for long hauls-- days-long air travel, finals weeks, I kick out all the junk I can. It keeps me going a lot longer and I feel more stable too. I used to load up on sugars and caffein too but after the high I would just feel miserable.

When you're short on sleep time you need to make sure you get the best quality kip you can. 6-7 hours can get you well rested if you sleep deeply, if you go to bed stressed or with you mind wirring away then 7 hours will feel like 4.

The best way I've found for maximising sleep quality is some good old fasioned 'luvin. If that's unavailable though you might try a cup of hot chocolate

Posted By Waaagh_Gonads on 10/04/2007 7:34 PM

there is no way you can get out of the hospital in under 12 hours in the day (ideally I'd like to stay for 16 hours, and sleep there overnight to get ahead with things but the wife won't let me )

Well, that explains a lot.  The problem is obviously the missus.

Showers. Before going to work when exhausted, don't skip a shower. They reinvigorate, but the effect wears off after a few hours. You also need an equalizer of sleep.

Other than that, f***ing man up.

Posted By OldPeculiar on 10/05/2007 5:24 AM
When you're short on sleep time you need to make sure you get the best quality kip you can. 6-7 hours can get you well rested if you sleep deeply, if you go to bed stressed or with you mind wirring away then 7 hours will feel like 4.

The best way I've found for maximising sleep quality is some good old fasioned 'luvin. If that's unavailable though you might try a cup of hot chocolate

So what are you supposed to DO with the cup of hot choco...ohhhh I see...

I believe in miracles...

Where you from?

Posted By Griffu on 10/05/2007 1:07 AM
Hmm, I've always been under the impression that doctors are forced to take a break every so often to keep errors down.

Definately eat healthy. Everytime I need to go for long hauls-- days-long air travel, finals weeks, I kick out all the junk I can. It keeps me going a lot longer and I feel more stable too. I used to load up on sugars and caffein too but after the high I would just feel miserable.

Nope, you're thinking of air traffic controllers. Doctors get the shaft on that.

That's because slow, medically treated death is so much less important than
a flaming wreckage.

When I was working as a baker and I was desperate for my next load of tuition $$ I once worked 29 night shifts in a row. I also didn't need to think straight.

Keep an eye on your diet, fresh food w/ fruits and vegetables.

No weight lifting/heavy objecting/hockey playing.

I don't think you really need aerobic excersize if this is a short term thing.

I have narcolepsy, there are long acting forms of Ritalin available, but they will knock you on your ass when they wear out.  If your body is exhausted like that you would probably literally pass out on the spot, lol, kind of funny.  You would feel good when you woke up tho.

Get your best buddy to choke you out. It hurts at first, but if you can trust him NOT to put Nikko pen all over you, shave your privates, eyebrows and other un-mentionables. Make sure there is a padlock on the fridge, chastity belt and underwear drawer.

Or choke yourself out, you will feel refreshed, and maybe spend less money on coffee.....

PS. be sure to do this in an area with no sharp-pointy bits that you might hurt yourself on.

I hear this is good during copulation as well.