Working the night shift?

[Tonks]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

 

[3toraiseup]

Oh yeah, it can be brutal. I worked third shift for two years, but quickly found another job as soon as I was able. I am a morning person and have never been a night owl, so I think that is why I struggled. Different people try different methods to lessen the sleep deprivation.

My technique:

Caffiene buzz begining at 9pm and steady dosing through around 4am. Drive home with the windows open and sing outloud.

Turn off your home phone ringer and try to darken up your room. Resist the temptation to get up early and do all the fun things you can't do with a 9-5 job! You HAVE to sleep. Don't let others infringe on your health and mental well being.

Some people adapt really well to night shift. I think it depends on the person.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Ben works second shift, there is no third...he doesn't get home til 1:15 am...and when they work longer shifts he gets home at 2:15am on a 9 hour shift and 3:15am on a 10 hour shift...and he leaves at 2pm because its over and hour drive....luckily he can take his iPod so he doesnt die of boredom...other than that..i dont know, drink coffee?

 

[plainswolf]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

I did for abour 5 years, and this was the type of job where most of the work was outside, which becomes a real bear in the dead of winter, but at least we could hang out inside until we got a call to run out a fix whatever problems a locomotive developes.

We drank lots of coffee - really strong coffee! But that tended to make us half crazy at the same time, and often would lead to us getting into alot of crazy mischief. We also had secret sleeping spots which worked for us because we always had a radio with us that would notify us whenever we had to go out and fix something.

But on a realistic note, I found that if I slept mostly in the AM hours after work - then took another 1-2 hour nap right before I had to go into work at night I would have much more energy and remain more wide awake during most the night shift. Try taking a short 1 - 2 hour nap right before you go in to work, this worked wonders for me.


+

 

[geocajun]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

i've done it. Fortunately I was able to work from home during that time, but I always found that I worked harder than normal just to keep the folks working during the day aware that I was still alive and providing value.
The extra hard effort coupled with the lack of sleep and the lack of need to shave turned me into something of a recluse in a short time. Ultimately I had to get out of that situation and return to the world of the living. Working nights is a tough lifestyle.

 

[thereselittleflower]

You need to be able to sleep well during the day.

For me this meant a very darkened room and sound deandening. I accomplished both by making a window board out of fabric covered dense, rigid foam that was several inches thick that fit tightly in my bedroom window. I slept very well after that.

If you are working full time, you cannot try to livea day life on your days off unless you have a special schedual that allows you large chunks of days off at a time. You simply turn into a night person all the time.

One job I had we worked 7 10 hour days in a row, then took 7 days off . . We worked in teams. That, in my opinin, is the ONLY way to work a night shfit and still have a normal life on your off days.

The hardest part was getting through the 4am hour. . . .


Peace

 

[D'Ann]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

First of all, my condolescences.

I worked 3rd shift for atleast 5 years. I just started working 1st shift about 6 or so months ago. Tonks... all I can say, is hang in there, it takes about 6 months or so for one's body to get use to it.

I got to feel as if I was a vampire. Slept during the day and up all night. When I would come home, I would then take my daughter to school and the sun was soooo bright that many times, I had to close my eyes. I hated the sun. lol but at the same time, I love the sun too.

Anyway, my heart goes out to you. Give yourself about 6 months to get use to it. Once you get use to the hours and the switch in your sleep patterns, it will get easier.

God be with you and yours through this transition.

Debbie

p.s.: No, I don't drink blood. lol

 

[Miss Shelby]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

As long as it's a straight shift and you're not rotating, like 2 weeks on day shift and 2 weeks on night shift, it's not bad. It's a little difficult to get used to at first, but once you get used to it it's not a big deal at all. The only thing I didn't like when I used to work nights was the rotating shifts.

Get some good blinds to put on your bedroom windows so it's dark in your room and you can sleep during the day, and you'll be fine. It's much easier for a single person with no kids to work the night shift, it's a little more difficult for those who have kids.

EDIT: I did a hasty read of your OP originally, I thought you said you were considering the graveyard shift. I see now that you're already working it and you hate it. I'm sorry. If you were planning on sticking with it I would reiterate that it does take some getting used to, but I sure hope that your other prospects pan out since you don't like it.

But trust me on the blinds. The darker your bedroom, the better.

Michelle

 

[geocajun]

p.s.: No, I don't drink blood. lol

Yes you do!

 

[PetertheRock]

I have done it...I would actually rather do the night shift than the shift I am most likely going to get stuck with next week. More than likely my shift will be from 4:30am until 12:30 pm. I am not a morning person and I would rather work the night shift which is 4:30pm until 12:30am.

I used to like the night shift at my old job. It was 6pm to 6 am but it was less stressful and more laid back. Plus the extra 15% differential meant almost $2 more an hour so it made it worth it. With my current job there is no shift differential.

On an unrelated note...I thought Unions were supposed to be good for the workers. I am now working a union job and have less pay, less benefits, and down right crappy work conditions compared to my last non union job. About the only thing the Union has done for me is take my money.

 

[Brian2944]

I currently work the 10pm - 7am. Been doing it for 3 years now. My advice is to not overdo the caffeine. I noticed night after night of it makes me really dehydrated, and then more and more tired. I now drink one soda a night and make a couple Jolly Ranchers.

For me chewing gum is the easiest way to stay awake.

The best parts of night shift:

1. No traffic
2. Much cooler
3. much more peaceful

Bad parts:

1. Gas station food, because thats all thats open!

 

[D'Ann]

Yes you do!

Only yours.... j/k

 

[poppinskw]

Only yours.... j/k

I dont think he was meaning his

 

[poppinskw]

I did the 10.30pm -7am sometimes at a geriatric hospital. It was harder because I just filled in when some were off sick, and sometimes had to do a split shift.

I made sure I kept moving when I felt really sleepy at about 3.30-4am and I drank plenty of water...that sure kept me awake running to the bathroom

I used to take a shower when I got home have some breakfast then try to sleep and hope it wasnt too hot. I also tried to go to bed in the early evening and sleep for 3-4 hours before work. But as I said I only filled in, my shifts were permantely day ones.

Les

 

[D'Ann]

I dont think he was meaning his

 

[D'Ann]

I did the 10.30pm -7am sometimes at a geriatric hospital. It was harder because I just filled in when some were off sick, and sometimes had to do a split shift.

I made sure I kept moving when I felt really sleepy at about 3.30-4am and I drank plenty of water...that sure kept me awake running to the bathroom

I used to take a shower when I got home have some breakfast then try to sleep and hope it wasnt too hot. I also tried to go to bed in the early evening and sleep for 3-4 hours before work. But as I said I only filled in, my shifts were permantely day ones.

Les

Before I switched to working just the 3rd shift, I also rotated my shifts. After 6 months of rotating... I felt as if my head was rotating. I knew that I couldn't keep doing it. My body got to where it didn't know when to sleep or be awake. Finally, I had an opportunity to permanently work the same 3rd shift hours and I grabbed it. I hope and pray that I'll never have to work 3rd shift again. I'm glad that I did though when I did. It was a much needed job and I needed to make the sacrifice, I'm just glad that it's behind me now.

 

[D'Ann]

I also agree with MissShelby and 3toraise.

Take your phone off the hook and make your room as dark as you can and I usually tried to go to bed about an hour or two after coming home from work. The earlier you go to bed, the better... atleast that was what worked for me anyway.

 

[Catholic Wife]

Anyone here ever done it? While waiting for some other employment to firm up I'm working the graveyard shift.

Any techniques to cope with it? To say that it is brutal would be a bit of an understatement....

I'm a "night person", so working nights has never been difficult for me (except around 4 a.m.). I've worked either the night shift or a "24 on / 48 off" shift (like many fire departments) for the past 15 years.

Things I did when I worked strictly nights (7 p.m. - 7 a.m.) were to sleep during the day in a dark, cool room with earplugs and the phone turned off. I tried my best to keep a night schedule, even though it seriously cut into my social life. I even took melatonin as soon as I got home to help me sleep and maintain my schedule. At work, I drank lots of water, ate good meals and moved around when I got sleepy. Things to avoid if possible are eating (esp. high sugar foods) to stay awake and drinking caffeine to stay awake since both of these can cause you to "crash" after a short while.

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Its easier for me because as a manic/depressive I have no bio-rhythms.

But the only way to successfully work nights is to turn your life around. Sleep eight hours just before or just after your shift. Eat when you get up. Exercise regularly.

And stop drinking coffee during your shift. Its not good for you duriing the day. Its actually worse at night.

You can get used to "going the wrong way" all the time. Highyways are always empty. Stores give you quick service. Its pretty nice.

 

[RoseofLima]

I think there is actually a science fiction book out there about the world of the third shifter....

My husband worked third shift for nearly a year--if he didn't have a family, I actually think it would suit him well. He would sleep when he got home, and then for about an hour before work.

Long ago I worked that overnight shift as a wiatress...it seriously blew. I too would sleep when I got home, but usually I would drink first. So I don't know that my experience is very helpful.