Originally Posted by freezingflyboy;[url=tel:3256540
3256540[/url]]Exactly what I do. It's worked well for me for a long time now. The trick is to skip the caffeine. I'll usually have a cup of coffee when I wake up the morning before a redeye but always make sure not to have any more caffeine after about 10am that day.
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Originally Posted by Grumpyaviator
(Post 3257202)
No coffee? That’s more inhumane than the red-eye.
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Interesting and good discussion. Interesting to see what people do. Also like most of us know at the end of the day you have to find what works for you as we are all slightly different. Me, I try to listen to my body as much as I can. If my body needs 6-8 hours of sleep I will try to give it that. Regardless what side of the clock I am knowing it will take me a while to get back to the “normal “ side of the clock. That’s in general.
Now working a red eye, at home I try to keep myself up the night prior really late. Not an issue night owl anyway. Go to bed around 4/5 am. Wake up at noon or 1 pm I can easily fly the first leg out land at whatever ungodly time and and still feel fine. By the time I get to the hotel I slowly start getting tired. Good timing. Now if it is one of those nasty 12-14 hour layover deals it kinna does stink. You fall asleep wake up 6/8 hours later and (for me at least ) its hard to take a nap a few hours after you wake up with a few hours to go till show time. So again i just try to keep myself up when I get to the hotel (sometimes doesn’t work just too tired) and sleep from 6/8 am till 2pm and then I’m fine again for the leg back. Ps. Yes, melatonin seems to work but like several said it helps ish the first 3/4 hours. If you don’t fall asleep in that period you are kinna screwed. Pps. Don’t take the none natural melatonin gives you some weird ass dreams ! (Not the good ones) Also I haven’t really heard anyone talking about this but maybe consider this. Of course assuming both fit for duty but I have before and will in the future ask my partner how they slept. If it turns out they slept much better than you and you are legal but feeling so so give that leg to your partner if they want it. Or vice versa. We’re so programmed to “who’s turn is it..”. I say who cares. Whoever feels most rested. Oh and I can’t stretch this enough. Water water water. Some coffee and water water water. Don’t take any of that nasty sugar crap before TOD. It won’t give you wings (you should have those by now anyway ) but it will make your heart race and add nasty **** to your system. And I find I land better a little tired and drinking water than hyper on Red Bull or whatever other crap some drink. Also steer clear of alcohol day prior. Keep it for home or a good long normal layover on a normal 4-day at dinner. Last ps ;
Originally Posted by Forgotmywallet
(Post 3254260)
Great book that has several paragraphs on airline pilots. Discusses melatonin as well.
One of the best books on sleep I’ve read. Author is a professor of neuroscience at Berkeley. I did weekly redeyes for B6 for four straight years. https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-.../dp/1501144324 |
I've gotten careful with caffeine consumption. On all days, flying, no flying, red eyes, no red eyes, I do not consume caffeine after 12:00. I began this habit about 10 years ago and it's worked wonders for me in terms of sleep.
For red eyes, one of the hardest things to do is not stress about getting in a nap. It's one of the easiest ways to ensure you won't nap beforehand. I don't tell myself I HAVE to nap; I tell myself it'd be nice, but if you don't, it's not the end of the world. I've gotten in anything from no nap at all to 3+ hours. It's okay. You will figure out what works for you. Listen to the advice in this thread; a lot of great tips and tricks. And hey, in the end, there's always "studying the overhead panel" ;) |
Originally Posted by 303flyboy
(Post 3257380)
Oh and I can’t stretch this enough. Water water water. Some coffee and water water water. Don’t take any of that nasty sugar crap before TOD. It won’t give you wings (you should have those by now anyway ) but it will make your heart race and add nasty **** to your system. And I find I land better a little tired and drinking water than hyper on Red Bull or whatever other crap some drink.
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Originally Posted by Crown
(Post 3257937)
For red eyes, one of the hardest things to do is not stress about getting in a nap. It's one of the easiest ways to ensure you won't nap beforehand. I don't tell myself I HAVE to nap; I tell myself it'd be nice, but if you don't, it's not the end of the world. I've gotten in anything from no nap at all to 3+ hours. It's okay.
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Originally Posted by SaintNick
(Post 3253832)
nap during the flight....
But melatonin worked good for me to get that nap in. Besides that coffee and books |
What brand of Melatonin are you guys using? What has worked?
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Originally Posted by butchf16
(Post 3259271)
Time release melatonin.
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If I take more than .4mg of melatonin, I'll spend half the trip in the forward lav!!!
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