Working overnight shifts

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by tiggs

I find a lot of the time I'm not sure what day of the week it is and I have a lousy sense of 'time', my internal clock is not the best. lol

Hah, so that's not just me? I have absolutely no idea what day of the week it is any more. It's maddening.

[DamonK]

I work 2nd shift. I have worked all 3 shifts.

My order of preference? 2nd, 3rd, 1st.

I am NOT a daytime person. Yet, like others, if I work 3rd shift I sleep...constantly. I used to fall asleep at 9 AM, sleep till 6, eat dinner, back to bed at 8 for a nap until 10. That was ALL I did.

I adore 2nd shift. I like having some daylight, but not much. 1st shift, well... I tried it for 10 months. I hated it. But if I had to, I would again. I do better in a school (office) setting for daytime hours such as first shift.

I often feel bad about not being home more with MBE, but I know this is the right choice. Ultimately, if I'm not happy, how can I expect to bring happiness to her life? And...call it selfish if you want... no other shift is going to make me happy. I go to work, then I come home and work at home. When I worked the other 2 shifts, the only time I did work at home was maybe a day off.

We've both sacrificed for me working this shift, but we've both gained much.

[theoddz]

I'm another hospital worker (Respiratory Therapist) and over the past 22 years that I've been doing this, I've worked a *lot* of graveyard shifts in my day, though when I did it, I always worked a 12 hour rotating schedule.

In my world, it's more of a "usual" thing for the newer employees to draw night shifts until they get a little seniority under their belts. There's also the ones (with seniority) who prefer to work the night shifts because of the additional money in "shift differentials" and the lack of the "daytime bullshit". I'm not one of these folks, though, and I've had the good fortune to have "paid my dues" in the government system and now I work 12 hour day shifts. If I were younger and had fewer health issues than I do now, I might feel differently and be able to adapt to a night shift routine. I see the money some of these night shift folks rake in in differentials, and it's almost tempting, but the trade off to my health makes me glad to have my day shift. Also, in my world, more happens during the day shift and this keeps more of my skills honed. I think that there are also more opportunities to "network" with more people during the day and, as a union steward, I have more access to supervisors and employees.

I'm really not sure if I can add much, if at all, to some of the suggestions already posted here about how to cope with being on night shifts. As a person with some complicated health issues, I can say that, over the years, being on a routine has helped me immensely to be able to hold down a demanding full time job and shuffle the responsibilities of a union steward. Eating right is a big thing and realizing when you need to slow down, take a few days off, and get your rest is another important thing you should do. Also get plenty of exercise on your off days and off tours.

My hat is off to the night folks. You're not doing an easy thing and research has shown that night people have higher incidences of high blood pressure and physical stress. Take care of yourselves.

~Theo~

[JustBeingMe]

I worked 10 yrs of swinging all shifts and even creating some of my own due to overtime in other depts. I knew how to work in when I was working for GoodYear Tire and Rubber Co. Tired building plant here in Texas.
I hated nights, I felt the EXACT same as you, Bet. Depressed more than usual, and I already have depression issues, just made it worse, sad all the time, crying spells, all the weight gain issues too. At least you can sleep during the day, I couldn't and I did all the things necessary to black out my bedroom even under my bedroom door so no day light could creep in. Hell I would wake up about 2 hours after going to sleep at Noon, and be like and in a state of panic thinking I missed my shift at work. I had to see the doc for sleep assistance meds. I took ambien to help me fall asleep and stay asleep but I felt groggy as hell waking up. Took me couple hours to get my shit together in my head and feel like I was awake.
I didn't take any of the things suggested here on the thread and I wish I had known about them then, I would have done them ALL.
I did adjust my eating habits to eating regular times, breakfast when I got off work at 7am, got up for dinner around 6 or 7, no lunch though. I only ate 2x daily. I also started to spend more time outdoors when I got off work, so I could soak up some sunlight, and on my days off, I would stay awake all day the first day after work, and work in my yard outdoors and it helped alot being able to spend time outdoors in the sunshine. My psych. doc adjusted my meds for the depression and had me take it at night instead of morning when I got off work, which did help me some.
One thing you can try is taking Melatonin, it's normally produced by the body to help induce sleepiness and help you to fall asleep during normal hours of living, our body is on it's own daytime clock so to speak, and when you work overnights, it just messes it all the way up, just like others here have said.
I would definitely change your eating habits/hours, walk more, remain outdoors more, try and find others to interact with during the daytime when your off from your shift, then go to bed later in the day. And try some of the methods mentioned here, but for sure listen the nurse here telling you to go see your doc, talk to him/her about the suggestions made here and about what your going through, and get yourself checked over before taking any over the counter stuff. Make sure you follow the suggested dosages too, don't take more than recommended, overdosing on something over the counter can cause real problems with your body. Thank the Lord I don't have to do shift work anymore, I prefer days, Early A.m. to Early P.m. shift, to get off and have a ton of sun to be in. I"m disabled now, with a back injury, but I do miss being able to work. boredom kills me. LOL
Ok, I've ranted enough. I hope you find something or somethingS that help you out. Take care and good luck Bet.

[Tcountry]

My answer is everyone is different and various things will work.
I have worked nights (11-7, 7-7, midnight-noon) for about 10 years now...
I think the hardest part on most people is trying to go back to "normal" hours on days off...if you keep your schedule even when not at work (harder than it sounds I know) but it makes you feel not so crappy on the days you do work.
Pick a routine and stiick to it...always eat, exercise, etc at the same time...train the body to do it...
I think it is most hard to go from days to nights and back again...thankfully Ia have not had that "opportunity" for some time now and can be strictly nights.

[Gayandgray]

I’m currently doing 12 hr night shifts(7p-7a). While it works best with my home life as far as sitters for my butch husband and all- I HATE it because everyone else workers days! But I do get a week where I have 5 days off in a row, so I enjoy that.

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

I’m currently doing 12 hr night shifts(7p-7a). While it works best with my home life as far as sitters for my butch husband and all- I HATE it because everyone else workers days! But I do get a week where I have 5 days off in a row, so I enjoy that.

Did you ask Human Resources or your boss if your place of work helps employees find eldercare? Are you or your husband veterans? That might be helpful. If you live in or near a city that might have a Senior Center? They might have suggestions.

I worked 12 hr. nightshift (19-0730) for 30 years, and still stay awake all night. Years ago, I decided to look at the upside of working nights. Now, I relish being awake at night when most other (sane) people are asleep.