Working night shift

[MazelTovCocktail]

I've been on weekly rotating 12's (7 to 7) for the past year and a half.

I have room darkening blinds and curtains and I usually take 2 12mg melatonin tablets before I go to sleep. I like to think that I'm used to the rotating schedule but Mondays are always the hardest for me to fall/stay asleep.

 

[MindlessWork]

I've been on weekly rotating 12's (7 to 7) for the past year and a half.

I have room darkening blinds and curtains and I usually take 2 12mg melatonin tablets before I go to sleep. I like to think that I'm used to the rotating schedule but Mondays are always the hardest for me to fall/stay asleep.

Yes that's because you might have had a more normal schedule on the weekend or on days you might have off. I never really had a rotating schedule per se but there's times I may be asked to cover the 2nd shift from 4pm-11:30pm for example.

I've done some 12hr shifts and I hated it.

 

[Jjay]

Oh I'm straight 6PM to 6am. I do t cover people's shifts since I dont call in. I do not take what I do not give

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Agreed. Of course there are days I'll wait like half a day but it doesnt matter to me which it is. But working after work sounds like I wouldnt be able to go as hard as I would want

Yeah, I'm used to either way. But you do usually lose some intensity after work. Don't really need to worry about losing intensity for work.

I've been on weekly rotating 12's (7 to 7) for the past year and a half.

I have room darkening blinds and curtains and I usually take 2 12mg melatonin tablets before I go to sleep. I like to think that I'm used to the rotating schedule but Mondays are always the hardest for me to fall/stay asleep.

I think having to switch back often would make things a lot worse. Hoping that I won't have to at least helps a little. I'll be 7pm to roughly 5am five days a week give or take an hour here and there and keep that schedule on my days off.

 

[MazelTovCocktail]

Yes that's because you might have had a more normal schedule on the weekend or on days you might have off. I never really had a rotating schedule per se but there's times I may be asked to cover the 2nd shift from 4pm-11:30pm for example.

You are correct. I work Mon - Thurs on day shifts and Mon - Weds on nights unless we are scheduled for overtime.

It can still be a challenge when it comes to my sleep/workout schedule especially after my weeks on night shift. My sleep schedule isn't usually back on track until Saturday so I'm back to normal just in time to spend the whole day doing meal prep for the week.

 

[MindlessWork]

Oh I'm straight 6PM to 6am. I do t cover people's shifts since I dont call in. I do not take what I do not give

Yeah but I've had people ask me to cover other shifts and had people offer to cover mine. So yea that can get a bit wild as far as sleep, gym and eating goes.

I currently work at home on a steady day shift and don't really miss the overnight work, but do respect those who do those shifts.

 

[Freakmidd]

I figured gym before work would be better because I'd have more energy. Normally on weekends I'd lift right after I got up and I prefer that. I'm not married and no kids, so I can stay on this schedule full time. Treating it like day shift would be more like normal, but I just hate gym after work.

Working day shift I wake up to an alarm.. when I worked nights I'd set an alarm, but would usually wake well before it went off.. had time to go to the gym and then work shortly after. Even when your adjusted it can be tough to get a proper workout in after a night shift so you can always set enough time to hit the gym before work if that's what works best for you..

 

[LeoTC]

Been working nights for years, I'm about the same. I just adapted to less sleep eventually and cat naps post gym.

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

I just started a new job this week. The pay is great and it's pretty easy work, it's just night shift with no possibility of going to days. It's my first week and I'm sure it'll get better over time, but I'm really struggling to stay asleep so far. I switched over to the new schedule over the weekend and even though I fall asleep easily I just can't sleep past about 11am. I didn't even get home till 6:30am this morning. Anybody got any experience with ways to get used to this?

My advice is to work as long and as hard as possible and break yourself past the mental fatigue. You WILL adjust. Its 100% mental. You tell yourself your tired and you will believe it. Your actual breaking point is days ahead of what ever you lead yourself to believe. I had a 100% day shift gig for yrs and that involved getting up at 0300 to go train and then go work 10-14 hrs. Last cpl yrs i am on duty by 0100 and 5 straight solid 14s simply because that is the best way to maximize my income. I love it and that helps. Im an adrenaline junkie and i like to hoot and holler and bring intensity when it otherwise doesnt call for it. That helps too. Being motivated. Be the asshole satan checks under his bed for at night. Not the victim. Your stronger than this. If its a good opportunity sell out for it and youll be suprised how easy it is to keep motivation high.

I did 99 hrs last 7 days. 0100 till whenever. No HOS rn so skies the limit. Dont complain, dont be fucking negative. Be mentally strong as hell and go fucking kill it. STAY HARD

 

[Oldschool]

My advice is to work as long and as hard as possible and break yourself past the mental fatigue. You WILL adjust. Its 100% mental. You tell yourself your tired and you will believe it. Your actual breaking point is days ahead of what ever you lead yourself to believe. I had a 100% day shift gig for yrs and that involved getting up at 0300 to go train and then go work 10-14 hrs. Last cpl yrs i am on duty by 0100 and 5 straight solid 14s simply because that is the best way to maximize my income. I love it and that helps. Im an adrenaline junkie and i like to hoot and holler and bring intensity when it otherwise doesnt call for it. That helps too. Being motivated. Be the asshole satan checks under his bed for at night. Not the victim. Your stronger than this. If its a good opportunity sell out for it and youll be suprised how easy it is to keep motivation high.

I did 99 hrs last 7 days. 0100 till whenever. No HOS rn so skies the limit. Dont complain, dont be fucking negative. Be mentally strong as hell and go fucking kill it. STAY HARD

Stay safe Truck. Served your country as a DEVIL DOG. Now saving lives trucking shit to people who need it. Thank you.

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Stay safe Truck. Served your country as a DEVIL DOG. Now saving lives trucking shit to people who need it. Thank you.

I got in to trucking because the economy was really depressed in the early 2000s in CNY and it was one of the few industries you could jump right in and earn 50-60k out of school with a small financial investment and i had my first kid on the way. Now days because of the govt CSA scores wages have never been higher and are thru the roof. Ive made well over 6 figures and top drivers earn about the same these days. Its really turned in to some thing.

Back when the economy was real bad i worked in juvenile corrections and even also at a commercial tire shop as roadside emergency to make ends meet. Moving to TX changed all that and im glad i did. You can really make some thing of yourself down here.

Its pretty rewarding profession when you put your time in and put yourself in good positions. Ive got a background in technology and a few friends who have the same MOS went on to work for kodak, IBM and similar companies with a great and useful skill set making good money too. Me? I dont enjoy working indoors. Im as wild as a coyote. Its a good match