Ever done night shift?

[Wanwo]

I'm starting a new job next week, 11pm to 7am. Never done nights before.

Any words of wisdom on what times are best to sleep and how to deal with the weekends?

Thanks.

[w7ck7d]

I work 10 x 4 from 8pm to 6am.I usually go to sleep around 7am to 2pm.And i still have enough time to do whatever i want to do and what not.

[mookieo2]

I`ve been working for 6 years 12-8 AM. You never get used to it. I don`t sleep much at home during the week. I usually sleep from 8-10:30 PM then get ready and go to work. I`m lucky enough that there is a few hours of " downtime"    at work to catch up. I also have a business during the day. If I only had one job then I can see going to bed at about 4 or five and then getting up for work. I would prefer to sleep and get up for work rather than sleeping when I get home and going to work after being up for 6 hours. If you have a family this might be difficult and have to sleep when you get home while everyone is out of the house. My fiance works for her self and from home most of the time so if we need to go somewhere during the week we go during the day.

On my days off, the first night I usually sleep about 10 hours, and go about my weekends like a normal person. You`ll figure out what works best for you. Just make sure to get your rest in the beginning.

Working nights has its advantages. You have the daytime to do stuff, like go riding with less traffic  , running errands, going to the doctor or DMV when they are open without taking off from work.

[ID_DUC_MON]

I started at my current hospital on nights, 3x 12hr shifts. I double layered the curtains in the bedroom and was able to pull 6 hours or so of sleep during the day. I found the transition days the worst, I.E. that first 12 hour shift after living like a normal person for a few days. Since I provide hands-on medical care, I thought getting rest would be important. I was only able to get by a few months and was more than glad to accept a day shift when it opened up so no more vampire feelings for me.  Good luck, night crews can be some odd ducks for sure.

[superjohn]

I did shift work when I first started my corporate gig and the previous posters are right, you don't ever really get used to it. I'd run all my errands after work and treat the morning like the evening, then try and go to sleep around noon, sleep until 6pm or 7pm, then get up and watch some TV before going into work.

The only real advice I can offer is black out your bedroom with a tarp or something over the windows and turn off your phone because everyone calls while you're asleep. Also since you're eating at weird times and your body is sort of thrown off it's easy to gain weight or not eat right and feel like crap. I didn't ever master this until after I got off shift work (20 pounds heavier) so I can't really do much more than give warning.

Weekends were really weird. I tried to keep the same schedule and that didn't work. I tried to go back to a regular schedule, and that didn't work. You either end up yawning all the time, or becoming a pseudo-vampire. Best to just go with it.

[Statler]

G did for many years...I came home and woke her up for work, she came home and woke me up for school...rinse and repeat...


blackout curtains.   room must be darker than during night.

phones off.   

It may be ugly, but soundproof the room as much as possible too.... we actually hung thick replica tapestries.  Looked like we were trying to recreate a castle in one room, but it worked and they were just lifted and hung over their bars when not needed.   Cut a ton of noise from outside the windows.

If you're single, use the opportunity to find the bar where all the nurses go in the morning after a 12 hour shift.   

[Got Duc]

I did nights for a while. I hated them unless they were on OT.  Then Kaching! 

I slept as soon as the shift was over and usually got up around 1 or so.

They suck!

[csp808]

Dpending on your age waitresses in their 20's on dinner shift normally throw little get together parties after work. Get to know some you'll meet a whole new pool of people and its cheaper than bar drinking

[MendoDave]

Get on swing shift as soon as you can. It has the benefit of keeping a pretty normal schedule with the rest of the world and your commutes are off peak times.


What kind of work is it?

[IZ]

I worked night shift a couple times..

Stocker at a grocery store
3rd shift at Univ of Michigan's Aphasia Clinic

Both were second jobs and I was going to school full-time.  Looking back, I can't believe I did it and would never want to do it again!  I averaged about 3-4 hours of sleep/night for a couple years.  It's bad enough working nightshift by itself and not doing anything else.  Totally screws with your mind and body.  I wouldn't recommend it but you gotta make money.   

[Popeye the Sailor]

Any words of wisdom on what times are best to sleep and how to deal with the weekends?

Go to the bar right after work-you'll be all fresh and once last call comes around, go to the after hours club. 

[hbliam]

I work 5:30 PM to 600AM, M-W. The way I do it is sleep from 630AM to 2ish on the work days but I get up at noon on my first day off. Then I am tired and ready for bed around 10 PM like a normal person on my "weekends".

[Grampa]

I worked twelve hour rotating day/night shifts for three year awhile back.

By the end of the 3rd year I was read to harm people


ear plugs....thick curtains... white noise.... sleeping pills and a sleep mask all helped.

[hbliam]

ear plugs....thick curtains... white noise.... sleeping pills and a sleep mask all helped.

True, forgot about the "system". I use black art type poster boards (about 1/4" thick) over my dual pane vinyl windows. Then an air purifier for white noise.

[ute]

did it for 30 years  2 week rotation nights were 5:30 pm to 4 am  then some OT some times till 6 am

so i would get home unwind for about an hour ..read a book .. surf etc   then sleep till 2pm  then eat and do any errands

yes black out the window ...also earplugs are a must !!! shut off phone

watch what and when you eat ...you will gain weight

i did enjoy the night shift