With our society becoming more and more 24-hour based, the number of employees working the graveyard shift has shot up in recent years. More than four million people in the UK work through the night on a regular basis. You may expect emergency services, security businesses and supermarket staff to work into the early hours, but other professions are also making the move into night shifts.

What are the benefits of night shifts?

Most companies offer a larger wage for night workers, even if they are doing the same task as their day shift colleagues. Some people find that working nights fits better into their schedule, whereas some people enjoy the quieter working environment and the freedom from nagging managers and supervisors. Working nights also means that there is less traffic on the road on the way to work and you can often miss the morning rush at the end of a shift, which is great when you have a long commute ahead of you. It's also a fantastic feeling coming home from a shift knowing that you have the day ahead of you, whilst other poor people are only just beginning their work day. Suckers.

What are the disadvantages then?

Well, the obvious one is forcing your body to adapt to completely backwards sleeping pattern. Your body clock will have adapted itself to sleeping at night and waking up the morning, so the whole system will need rewiring. Working nights can also make a person feel isolated as it's likely that their friends will be on a completely different schedule to them. Doing the weekly shopping at a 24-hour Tesco at 3 A.M. can also add to the feeling of loneliness. There are also various medical conditions linked to poor sleeping habits such as obesity, diabetes, strokes, mental health issues and depression.

Yikes! How do I sort my sleeping out?

First, you'll need to establish a set routine to sort your body clock out. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day will establish a pattern that your body will stick to. Unless you go and mess it up again by going back on day shifts, that is. As long as you're managing to get around eight hours of sleep every 24 hours, your routine will soon set itself. In order to get the full sleep that you require, try following these helpful tips:

• Get yourself some blinds or blackout curtains to block sunlight
• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks (soft drinks, coffee, energy drinks) and nicotine before bedtime
• Don't stimulate your mind by watching telly or reading before bedtime
• Take any distractions out of your bedroom, such as games consoles, to remind yourself that it is a place of rest
• Try to wind down before sleeping by having a bath or shower
• Make sure that your mattress is completely comfortable, with no lumps or loose springs
• Don't use sleeping pills for more than a fortnight as you may become dependent on them
• Make sure you don't eat too much beforehand, and use the toilet before bedtime to avoid having to disturb your sleep

Starting to work nights can be quite a difficult task, but once you've got your sleeping pattern sorted and got into the habit of going to work in the middle of the night, you may find that working the night shift may be perfect for you.