Melotonin seems to help some people. I'm a little vague on the fitness for duty implications, but it is a natural supplement...do your own research. I wouldn't take it less than 8 hours before work.
A few other ideas...
It takes a while to unwind, but some things can affect how long...
These things will stimulate you and keep you awake for a while:
- Recent meal (light snack would be OK)
- Recent exercise...you probably need 1+ hour post-workout.
- TV/Computer: Seems odd, but the high-speed screen refesh rate stimulates the underlying electrical rythms of your brain (maybe THAT's why we waste so much time on APC
)
- Dynamic social interaction.
- Bright lights/noise
- Things to do hanging over your head...for this reason I always pack, iron the shirt, layout the shaving stuff, etc the night before if I have to get up early.
Things to help you unwind...
- Dim lights/quite time
- Reading (OPSPECs would do the trick I guess)
- Small desert-type snack
- Stretching, yoga, hotub, etc
- A drink, or two max.