Grumpyaviator

No coffee? That’s more inhumane than the red-eye.

freezingflyboy

lololol no coffee!? No ones saying THAT! For chrissakes, were not talking about a mormon prison here! Just no caffeine between 9-10am and nap time! I usually time my nap to wake up 60-90 mins before show time. I usually will have some caffeine (a coffee or Dr Pepper/Coke) along with a light dinner (typically a sandwich or salad I stashed in the fridge). Then I usually try to have a coffee during boarding and another about 45 mins from landing. Works great for me.

303flyboy

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 ;
This is a great read !

Crown

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"

Crown

drive this point home - do not drink energy drinks beforehand. The crash you experience is so hard/fast and very tough to recover from. One-two cups of coffee at most per red-eye and like you said, water water water.

rickair7777

My experience too, if sleep doesn't come then 3-4 hours of relaxing and reading in bed is fairly rejuvenating.

butchf16

Time release melatonin.

capt707

What brand of Melatonin are you guys using? What has worked?

beverage

The bi-layer time release melatonin works great for me. 5mg.

Triggs

If I take more than .4mg of melatonin, I'll spend half the trip in the forward lav!!!