How can I stay awake during shift work?

Shift work consists of an arrangement of working hours that differs from standard daylight hours. It can include evening, night, and early morning shifts as well as fixed or rotating schedules. Because of the irregular time period associated with the work, fatigue, alertness, and excessive sleepiness at work are often experienced by workers on irregular shifts followed by the inability to fall asleep during the day. To ward off lethargy during shift work hours, one needs to- - Avoid eating heavy meals before the start of the shift - Keep chatting with your co-workers so the active conversation will be beneficial for all the people involved - Keep the body moving so as to enable better blood circulation with wakefulness - Get a good phase of uninterrupted sleep during the day That said a small percentage of workers experience extreme fatigue during night work to the point of requiring medical attention for their condition. Termed Shift Work Sleep Disorder by health care experts, occurs due to the body's inability to adjust the circadian rhythms with the night shifts, and left untreated can cause serious complications to the sufferer. Main Treatment Diagnosed Shift Work Sleep Disorder requires medical intervention in the form of medications. Often eugeroic medications or wakefulness-promoting drugs are considered the first line of treatment by physicians and health experts dealing with Shift Work Sleep Disorders. Of them, Modafinil is the most popular and sought-after medication in FDA-approved treatment of excessive sleep conditions. Modafinil is said to work on the Dopamine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine neurotransmitters of the Central Nervous System to bring about the wakefulness effects required during the night shift. It also works on the histamine neurochemical and the GABA pathway to further increase the brain’s wakefulness and cognitive functions. Modafinil has been shown through various research and study programs to significantly improve the functioning and quality of life of people with SWSD. It is a Scheduled IV medication and is available strictly through prescription use. Modafinil comes in strengths of 100 and 200 mg with the exact dose to be administered depending on - the severity of your condition - treatment plan of the medical practitioner - the presence of liver problems or gastrointestinal issues if any in your system in which case a reduced dose is advised. Alternative Treatments Apart from Modafinil, other commonly practiced SWSD treatment options are:-  Light Therapy Bright light is said to boost alertness and suppress the sleep hormones affecting your work schedule. Turning up the lights or keeping a lightbox near you helps deal with the problem to some extent.  Melatonin supplements Melatonin is a sleep-promoting hormone that regulates the sleep cycles of the body. Melatonin-rich foods or synthetic supplements taken during the day will help you get a peaceful day's sleep that can contribute to keeping awake during your night shift.  Lifestyle changes Lifestyle changes in the form of reducing caffeine intake, regular exercise, consuming a balanced diet, and practicing good sleep hygiene are said to help the body adjust better to circadian rhythm changes  Therapy Excessive sleepiness tendency during night shifts can result in impaired work performance that can impact the professional stability of the individual. Night driving accidents and drowsy workplace mistakes can affect the physical health and morale of the individual. Taking psychological help for your condition can help you deal with it in an effective manner.