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Well now, at me job, where my hours could vary from 6:30am-4:30p up to 1:30pm-11:30pm, I have elected to do the overnight shift from 11pm-9am Monday's thru Fridays', and I've only practiced the 3rd shift routine last night at home, to a small degree of success 
I don't wanna go the route of chemical stimulants, so any other recommendations to stay awake and somewhat sane until the morning?
I hate working nights. Never had to resort to extreme measures to stay awake, as it's actually quite easy provided your busy at work. Sleeping during the day can be tricky, but the worst thing I find is that you just get into the routine and then it's time to swap onto earlies or lates. Luckily I don't have to work them that often.
Quite right....I work at a group home for those with developmental disabilities....so they all sleep during my shift...I am given tasks of light cleaning, which takes me no more than an hour. Not another staff until 6:30am, so if I can make it till then, I'll be decent.
This should be a semi-perm shift, so my body should get used to it after awhile. It's shitty to sleep somedays though, as my place has no A/C except in the living room...so I sweat my nuts off and get horrible sleep, or sleep on a ratty old couch in the living room and have to hear me family carrying on when they get home in the early evening 
Did years of shifts and it plays havoc with the body at times. My top tip is to eat as you normally would - a light breakfast before you go to bed, another breakfast when you get up, a decent meal at tea time then nothing but water or fruit after midnight.
I did trick work one summer (8AM-4PM one week, 12PM-8AM the next week, 4PM-12AM the next week, and so on...) and the only trick I had trouble sleeping was 12PM-8AM, similar to your hours. I think that's because I have trouble sleeping when it's light out though. I think that if you're going to be working these hourse for a while, I'd recommend shifting your schedule. Eat a normal breakfast when you get up, then go to work, eat lunch there, and eat a normal dinner after you get home from work. I'd try to do the same things you normally do, just that they'll be offset by about 15 hours. And of course, lots of Mountain Dew!
I've worked shifts for the last 10 years,12 hour ones... Never got used to it,plays havoc with your body clock. Read one study saying a liftime of shiftwork knocks six years off a person's life on average,because the heart has to work overtime staying awake for prolonged periods too often,nice!:rip:
No substitute for kip I don't think,and I love me kip! Only tip I can give is to try and grab an hour or two before you go one nights,you'll still be fucked come 5 in the morning whatever you do mind,but it's a cross you have to bear.
Due to circumstances outwith my control, i have to do 3 weeks of nights out of the coming 6 weeks which just happen to be the school holidays.
Aswell as my 3 weans, there are about 20 kids in the street who congregate outside our house "morning, night and day." 
Ear plugs at the ready. 
John Sludden wrote: Due to circumstances outwith my control, i have to do 3 weeks of nights out of the coming 6 weeks which just happen to be the school holidays. Aswell as my 3 weans, there are about 20 kids in the street who congregate outside our house "morning, night and day."
If you can sleep with the radio on that generally worked for me better than earplugs.
Beware the dead hour as well, starts about 03:30 to 04:00 when everyone is just out.
Avoid working nights when the clocks go back in the autumn, heartbreaking turning the clock back then working through the longest hour and for some unpaid.
Not too bad at this time of year because it's cooler than working during the day especially if outside.
