O/T Working the dreaded 3rd shift.......

[StoryOfTheYear]

SO....last night was the first night of working the 3rd shift (10pm to 7am). It really sucked!!! I didn't get to sleep until probably 9:30 this morning, and then only slept for a good four hours!! I've accepted the fact that it's probably something I'm going to have to do for at least 90 days. I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences and how you managed your time with doing other non-work related things. I guess I'm just looking for some hope!lol Thanks -StOrY

 

[sadie]

SO....last night was the first night of working the 3rd shift (10pm to 7am). It really sucked!!! I didn't get to sleep until probably 9:30 this morning, and then only slept for a good four hours!! I've accepted the fact that it's probably something I'm going to have to do for at least 90 days. I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences and how you managed your time with doing other non-word related things. I guess I'm just looking for some hope!lol Thanks -StOrY

i worked 3rd shift (7pm-7am) for a year.. i never did adjust to it but i started making my insomnia more productive.. i knew that when i got off work i was gonna lay there staring at the wall til atleast noon.. so i started hitting the gym on the way home. atleast i was doing something while i couldnt sleep.. it really did take a toll on me though, i would sleep 2 MATBE 3 hours a day then my first day off i would sleep.. 20+ hours lol good luck lol

 

[StoryOfTheYear]

lol geeeeeeeez that sucks!!! It's funny...I noticed every one I worked with seemed really spaced out and zombie-esque! lol -StOrY

 

[MDT]

I have done many, many graveyards in my life.

1. avoid any caffeine 4 hours prior to sleep (this is hard because that means no coffee after 3am, making the last part of the shift hard).
2. Make your sleeping room as dark as possible. Put up tinfoil on the windows if necessary (like crackheads do). I also have a white noise machine in my dark dungeon of a room.
3. Get into a sleep routine (read, shower) and do it consistently before sleep
4. continue with your nocturnal schedule during all days off (this is the hardest part if you have family, but if it is only temporary it can be done).
5. Once you get off work, if the sun is out, wear sunglasses so your mind "thinks it is still night." Avoid any sunlight and go directly into your dark house/room.
6. Avoid sleep aids if possible, but if you need it ambien is supposed to be very good (theoretically allows you to go into deeper stages of sleep/REM cycles, which older meds/alcohol do not). Remember, every time the drug companies have came out with a drug that is "not addictive" it is always found to be very addictive.

 

[sadie]

lol geeeeeeeez that sucks!!! It's funny...I noticed every one I worked with seemed really spaced out and zombie-esque! lol -StOrY

learn to love coffee and eca i would get off at 7am.. hit the gym.. home by 10.. stare at the tv til 12 or 1.. sleep a little wake up at 4 go do cardio number 2 straight to work by 7pm.. after a trip to dd to get 2 xl turbo hazelnut coffees with skim and equal repeat trip to dd at 10pm.. and 3am for max results

 

[StoryOfTheYear]

learn to love coffee and eca i would get off at 7am.. hit the gym.. home by 10.. stare at the tv til 12 or 1.. sleep a little wake up at 4 go do cardio number 2 straight to work by 7pm.. after a trip to dd to get 2 xl turbo hazelnut coffees with skim and equal repeat trip to dd at 10pm.. and 3am for max results

is dd Dunkin Donuts? If so, they do have some awesome coffee!!!! I might have to make a stop before and during work tonight. A turbo Hazlenut coffee sounds like it would do the trick. Hey! If anything, this job is good motivation to hurry up and get freakin' done with school! lol Hey! I used to live in Ventura. Are you around there? I loved it out there! I want to move back eventually. Thanks for the tips also! -StOrY

--Thanks to you MDT also.

 

[Iceman1800]

I worked 3rd for over 7 years, it is brutal. Make sure you go to bed around the same time each day. Make your room dark as possible and turn on a fan to block out noise. Try not to drink anything within a couple hours of going to bed, if you have to get up to pee, you probably are up for the day. Learn to empty your mind. Going to bed with issues or anger will keep your brain in overdrive and you won't fall asleep. Good luck.

 

[sadie]

is dd Dunkin Donuts? If so, they do have some awesome coffee!!!! I might have to make a stop before and during work tonight. A turbo Hazlenut coffee sounds like it would do the trick. Hey! If anything, this job is good motivation to hurry up and get freakin' done with school! lol Hey! I used to live in Ventura. Are you around there? I loved it out there! I want to move back eventually. Thanks for the tips also! -StOrY

--Thanks to you MDT also.

yep Dunkin Donuts best coffee ever hehe

I hate that they dont have any in so cal

I live in encino so pretty close just moved here the end of july.. realllly love it

 

[latimus]

been working nights for over 3 yrs str8.

the one thing that has helped me the most is a good set of ear plugs. now I cant even fall asleep without them.

 

[Big Bapper]

It would be worse working split or roating shifts they messed with my sleeping big time. I also done 6pm-6am in a sawmill. The only good part is you get to stay up late at the weekends. Just get into a routine eating at the same times, working out and going to sleep.

 

[eroc613]

Hey story

I tried getting in touch with you. And had no luck. Shoot me another PM so I can check the number you gave me.

 

[wtw11171]

I worked the 11-7 shift for about a year 1/2. I worked in a nursing home and most of the time it was quiet then. Sometimes you could catch a power nap here and there. I would come home, eat, meditate and sleep. I never had trouble sleeping 6-7 hours. A lot of good suggestions here. For me, it is all in the mind. Meditation helped me shut down my mind.

 

[NCMAC]

I worked the over night shift for a while a few years back and loved it.. Second shift to me is the absolute worst as you get no day and no night.. at least with overnights, you can get home and crash for a few hours and then have the afternoon and most of the evening to do whatever you want.. The gyms arent crowded at the times I would go..no traffic because everyone would be heading north when I was heading south.. Sleeping during the day takes some getting used to.. I would grab some light blocking curtains to make your bedroom as dark as possible and you'll have no problem falling asleep..

 

[ronnieron]

I have workend 3 rd shift for five years and currently do. It sucks but the fiance's gotta work during the day. Try working 3rd shift and take care of 3 kids (soon to be 4) all 5 and under. I get 2 hours of sleep while they nap and maybe another 2 hours after dinner and the miss gets home.
The thing I hate is if I work mon night into tues morning and I have tues night off this miss expects me not to take a nap tues afternoon because I get to sleep tues night. Sometimes I got 30-36 hrs before I get to sleep.
The 3rd shift makes it hard to stay consistent with your eating and working out, somedays I'm just too tired to even make myself food.

 

[GoneForFuckingEver8]

I worked the over night shift for a while a few years back and loved it.. Second shift to me is the absolute worst as you get no day and no night.. at least with overnights, you can get home and crash for a few hours and then have the afternoon and most of the evening to do whatever you want.. The gyms arent crowded at the times I would go..no traffic because everyone would be heading north when I was heading south.. Sleeping during the day takes some getting used to.. I would grab some light blocking curtains to make your bedroom as dark as possible and you'll have no problem falling asleep..

i feel the same way. i never slept at regular hours, i actually prefer to work nights.

 

[StoryOfTheYear]

WOw!! Some really great advice here! Thanks a lot everyone. You guys(and gals!!) really helped me out! -StOrY

 

[mrcat]

I've worked it off and on, over the years. The only way it really worked out good was when I was working 7 days a week. It was really smooth during that time. Using room darkeners and fans helps. The biggest issue is if you try to go back to "normal" hours on off days. That really mess with you, bad.....

 

[StoryOfTheYear]

So what do you guys recommend doing on off days? Because as of right now I decided to stay up until about 6 or 7am and just read and get someone studying done and stuff, but I'm kind of lonely..... haha -StOrY

 

[bboveri]

I have worked rotating shifts for the last year, and kind of enjoy it.

The schedule I am on, I work only 14/28 days, 12 hours, 7-7. Because of this, I get a straight week off every month, which makes for some nice overtime days if it becomes available!

Here is what I do to switch my sleeping patterns:

Going from daylight to midnight shift- I will stay up until 1am, and then take 2 generic nyquil (diphenhydramine hcl, or benadryl, same thing) tabs along with some melatonin. I put in some ear plugs and will be out for 10 hours. When I wake back up I will pop another melatonin and will be out for another 2 hours. This is enough sleep to get me through the night shift

 

[JETHRO TULL]

My dad was a cop.

You'll get used to it once you develop a routine. Just be sure to plan your meals ahead of time, plan your rest schedule and stick to it.

We all learned to be quiet until about noon because my dad would be off at 4-4:30 am. He'd come home in the middle of the night for "lunch" and I'd always get up and bullshit with him [because I'd hear a car pull up..we live out of town..] he'd sit there and listen to his portable radio for emergency calls. He'd take off and I'd go back to bed.

Do you have anyone living at your house that will keep you up? That does complicate the whole thing. Are you doing manual labor?

Best of luck.