Anyone ever work the graveyard shift?

I've been calling about jobs, and it looks like I have a very good shot at one but it's overnight (from about 12:30am to 9am). If I pass on this one and ask to be considered for the other job (another location) that's day shift, who knows if I'll get that or not...

I've only ever worked night shift for a week. It wasn't horrid, and aside from getting really tired around 4am, I did get used to it. (And then of course I switched back to another shift, go figure)

But for those of you who have done it for more than a week, do you adjust and stay adjusted? Is it a total wreck? Do you manage to sleep a proper 8 hours once you're adjusted?

I don't have kids or an SO, so that's not a problem. The week I spent on the graveyard shift I would even go in early and wander around the building chatting with other late night workers. I expect keeping busy will help me not crash at 4am?

And is it better or worse in the winter when it gets dark so early??

Basically, just share with me everything you can I might get a call back this afternoon or this week

CACTUSWENDY said:

The times in my life that I have worked nights were good for me, but I am a night person anyway. I think it really depends if you turn into a pumpkin, say, after 11:00 or 12"00. Some folks are only day folks. Whatever you choose to do, best wishes.

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See, I'm more the 'turn into a pumpkin' type, but the week I endured nights I was able to survive until 4am at least... And usually I'm in bed early but somtimes I'll be up til 11 or 12am when a wild hair catches me. But I was surprised how well I survived that week

shadowwalker said:

I've worked graveyard for close to 15 years (with and without a child in the house), and yes, eventually you get used to it. Just have to shift your time frame forward (or backward )

The hardest part is being able to sleep during the day - not only because it's light out but because you have to deal with daytime noise. Dark blinds and ear plugs do wonders. But yeah, given my druthers I'd work nights. Some days I think otherwise, but that has more to do with the job than the time frame.

The best part, for me, is leaving work just as the day is beginning (currently I get off at 7 AM).

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I will have to get a house in the country, set off from the road and neighbors


And thank you to everyone else who weighed in. Looks like many of you had the same experience.

I do worry about my meal cycles- though I do already eat every few hours right now (and have for two-three years). I think I'd be prone to gaining weight as I ate food in an attempt to stay awake (caffeine is right out, excluding moderate amounts of dark chocolate)

MaryMumsy said:

If the job is offered: could you take it, try it for a month or two? If it was too onerous let them know you love working for them, but the night shift just doesn't work and could you change?

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A month or two- No, unless the day shift position at this location opened up and someone more senior to me (ie- almost everyone) didn't snatch it up. After 6 months, maybe. After a year, getting warmer.

The main problem is there are hiring bonuses associated with this position and you end up a bit dug in once you say yes. I haven't yet asked about the terms, but will once appropriate (starting with 'Should a day shift position at this plant become available, would I be high on the list for consideration?')

dpaterso said:

'Way back when I worked nights, I hit the formula that worked for me: take a nap for a couple of hours in the late evening, get up, go to work, come home, go to bed, get up just after lunch. Gave me 6 or 7 hours of daylight wakefulness. By which time I was ready to nap for a couple of hours.

A thermos flask of hot soup works wonders at 4am.

-Derek

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See, that doesn't sound bad, except most people technically need 8 hours straight. But if all else fails, it certainly makes sense to divide up your night. And then you get the whole middle of the day to do stuff...

And hot soup or stew sounds most excellent Unless I get so warm and content I pass out 30 minutes later

Chris P said:

There is something I call a "third shift syndrome." People who work third shift seem to do nothing but work and sleep. Even if the job is 8 pm to 5 am, they'll sleep from 6 am to about 6 pm. They also have a completely different perception of time. My third shift friends seem genuinely mystified when I don't want to help them move furniture at 11:30 pm, and anything that they say will take 30 minutes (such as moving furniture) takes two hours. I'll admit my sample size is pretty small, but third shifters are just ... different.

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I hope I don't sleep for 12 hours, but I just might! And I will watch out for third shifters wanting 'quick' favors

kayleamay said:

The worst part is being on a different schedule than the rest of the world and feeling tired around 1 p.m. on your days off.

Last year I moved to a house on a dead end street, across from a giant sub-station and lined on the other three sides by nothing but trees. We moved here because it's quiet in the daytime. Also, I've place solarfoam over my bedroom window so it's very dark. Between these two things, sleeping in the daytime is easy.

Oh, and if you take the third shift, be sure to put a nasty looking sign on your door stating that you're a day sleeper and that anyone who rings the bell is at risk of being shot. Sometimes people actually read it.

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Was there anything you did to help your sleep cycle on your days off? (Or anyone for that matter)

I will make sure to put in a fake door bell that only rings faintly by the door so the fools ignoring the sign will think it rang throughout the house

Plus there's a lot of rural in this area, thank goodness.

If I drive an hour I'll have lots of meal choices

The lake or the park would be nice though, particularly when it's quiet. Or the beach.

Thanks for the continued advice, folks.

I really really really want a job and I hope I get a call soon.

I hope I adjust well enough, and at least I have the one week of graveyard shift to go by. I was tired but never in danger of wrecking my car on the way home. That's a good start

Yeah, mixing shifts is the worst thing ever. There are a lot of 'relief positions' open right now, and I found out you could be sent anywhere to work at any hour. It's bad enough driving over an hour every so often, without adding unexpected midnight shifts to the works. I'd rather just work the graveyard and adjust.

I'm beginning to think the trick is to get up 'right' before work, just like most folks and their day jobs.

Thanks for chiming in