Working Nights

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I've worked some fucking awful shift patterns over the years.

I've done the following:

Standard 6-2, 2-10, 10-6 shift rota (5 days of each, with overtime as required),

12 on 12 off, 7pm to 7am for 4 days followed by 3 days off, then the same again but 7am to 7pm,

12 on 12 off for 7 days, 5x 8 hour days 8am to 4pm, then 12 on 12 off for 7 nights

24 Hours on, 24 hours off for a 14 day cycle followed by 7 days off (24 on was a sleeping duty, on call between 10pm and 6am),

A 21 day cycle of 10 nights (either 4pm to 12 midnight, or 11pm to 7am), 1 day off, 10 days (7am to 4pm), 10 days off (I did this for 3 years),

You basically have to shift your day to accommodate your shift pattern. So lets say I started at 2pm finished at 10pm, I'd probably get up around 12 and go to bed around 4am.

The 12 hour nights were the worst, even more so than the 21 day shift cycle. My circadian low was between 3 and 4am, so for the first couple of nights, I'd be absolutely fucked, but once I got the first bit of sunlight in my eyes I'd perk up. I'd be fine after 3 nights.

 

[remember arthur mann]

You can watch my covered bridge videos..... you'll be out for the count on 10 mins!

Don't know about your covered bridge video's but if you listen to Goldbridge's videos, you'll be unconscious in no time, with his monotonous droning on and on and on bullshit.
Torremolinos, Torremolinos.
Anyway, for all those who have endured the misery and finally retired, enjoy your well earned rest.

 

[GOULDYBOBS]

Did it for 8 years. Dont do it unless it suits you blue. Its not worth the impact IMO

 

[RACHACE]

I've worked some fucking awful shift patterns over the years.

I've done the following:

Standard 6-2, 2-10, 10-6 shift rota (5 days of each, with overtime as required),

12 on 12 off, 7pm to 7am for 4 days followed by 3 days off, then the same again but 7am to 7pm,

12 on 12 off for 7 days, 5x 8 hour days 8am to 4pm, then 12 on 12 off for 7 nights

24 Hours on, 24 hours off for a 14 day cycle followed by 7 days off (24 on was a sleeping duty, on call between 10pm and 6am),

A 21 day cycle of 10 nights (either 4pm to 12 midnight, or 11pm to 7am), 1 day off, 10 days (7am to 4pm), 10 days off (I did this for 3 years),

You basically have to shift your day to accommodate your shift pattern. So lets say I started at 2pm finished at 10pm, I'd probably get up around 12 and go to bed around 4am.

The 12 hour nights were the worst, even more so than the 21 day shift cycle. My circadian low was between 3 and 4am, so for the first couple of nights, I'd be absolutely fucked, but once I got the first bit of sunlight in my eyes I'd perk up. I'd be fine after 3 nights.

Wow. The days off sound great on some of those shift patterns but you have to suffer a bit in order to get them.

What do you do? (if you don't mind me asking)

Freight train driver? Nurse?

 

[BlueRockape]

4 on 4 off nights I loved it I suppose it suited me its not for everyone make sure you get sleep in your down time.
The fact that driving at night for me was a lot less stressful.
Twelve days off for four days holiday. ; )

 

[GOULDYBOBS]

4 on 4 off nights I loved it I suppose it suited me its not for everyone make sure you get sleep in your down time.
The fact that driving at night for me was a lot less stressful.
Twelve days off for four days holiday. ; )

Yeah the days off were mega! Cant see myself doing anything for 12 hours ever again

 

[stonerblue]

Good luck with that. Continental shifts are a killer.

 

[bert38]

Its horrible. I worked a rotating shift pattern for 25 years-inc nights, 12 hour nights for the last 6/7 years.
You never get used to it-it completely fucks you up-we aren't nocturnal. If you can get out of doing them, then do it asap.

Otherwise black out blinds, ear plugs, eye mask..night nurse or nytol can help...thats not medical advice btw, just what I'd resort to. Don't drink any caffeine on nights after midnight-cut out booze during the day (lot of people I worked with needed 2/3 cans when they got home in order to sleep).

Have an understanding partner, don't do anything between nights other than rest.

In conclusion they are evil-recovery from nights would take me at least 2 days...

Winters were better but summer was a nightmare-get a fan.

Your hormones will be all over the place-I'd get really horny during the day after nights...not the best image, but your body wants to be up and active...

 

[RACHACE]

Been awake since about 9am so had about 5 hours kip. Missus and little one made themselves scarce but I'm struggling to go back to sleep despite being tired.

Gonna cycle to and from my shift tonight with the hope that it makes me more tired and I sleep a bit longer tomorrow as there's little chance that I'll nod off again today.

Ah well, weather's gorgeous so think I'll tske my two year old to the park for an hour.

 

[bert38]

The last few years I’d take pre-workout before nights-I’d be buzzing my tits off until about 3am when I’d crash-it was a horrible way to live.

 

[RACHACE]

The last few years I’d take pre-workout before nights-I’d be buzzing my tits off until about 3am when I’d crash-it was a horrible way to live.

I'm doing 1 in 3 weeks on the night shift with the other 2 weeks being a 3 day and a 4 day week.

I'm hoping I can get used to it as the time at home I'll enjoy. The money isn't bad either.

 

[bert38]

I'm doing 1 in 3 weeks on the night shift with the other 2 weeks being a 3 day and a 4 day week.

I'm hoping I can get used to it as the time at home I'll enjoy. The money isn't bad either.

Yeah if you can find a routine you’ll be fine-just make sure you prioritise sleep when you can.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Appreciate this isnt likely much help, but i couldn't think of much worse than working night shifts

 

[dadnlad]

1st night is an absolute killer!! I work 1 out’ve 3 weeks on nights have done for last 18yrs, kinda got used to it if that’s possible!! nights this week & school holidays not a good match for sleeping :-/

Top of voice QUIET YOU'RE DADS IN BED
Eventually give up and get oh why you up can't you sleep

 

[Antste001]

My first job was in a factory working 12 hour night shifts/12 hour day shifts. 6:00pm to 6:00am. Swapping every 2 weeks.
I loved working nights. Sleep was OK. The one thing I really struggled with was food. No appetite at 3:00am and the smell of everybody else's food made me feel sick. I just ate crap for years.

 

[ob]

My shift was 5 12 hour shifts in 7 days then 2 in 7 days.

The 2nd week was great as only worked Weds/Thurs but the other was killer. Mon/Tues off Weds/Thurs then work Fri/Sat/Sun.

 

[Scottyboi]

At one point I was doing 6 till 6, 5 days a week it was fucking awful would sleep 5 hours if that and my weekends would just be a blur. Never again hopefully.

 

[city2]

Doing 4 on 4 off and then maybe do 1 night overtime was a killer some guys use to do 2 or 3 nights mad fuckers but the money was well worth it.

 

[JRockBlues]

Best 12 hour shift pattern I ever had was a bit of a weird one but it worked for me. Start with 2 days (Mon & Tue). Then 4 nights starting Friday follwed by 3 days starting the following Friday then another 2 days for the Wednesday & Thursday and round it off with 3 nights starting Tuesday vefore starting the pattern all over again. Book the 2 days off as hols and you get a nice chunk of time off for very little off the allowance. You also get 2 full weekends off out of 4 which is something the 4 on 4 off system doesn't give.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I used to work in a factory doing 4 alternating 12hr shifts from late 89 to mid 96. I could never get used to them and always felt tired. And because i had just got a mortgage and saving up to have kids i regularly did 5 12hr day shifts.

The nights were particularly bad in winter and i didn't suffer from SAD before doing shift work. Going to work and coming home in the dark played havoc with my mental well being and physical health. I felt zombified due to not getting enough sleep and eating at times i wasn't hungry. Was always weary.

I also used to need to wear a peaked cap on nights as the flickering striplights gave me headaches and occasional migraines. I got another job in another factory on better money doing rolling 6-2, 2-10 and 10-6 shifts. I found 8 hour shifts much better, especially 6-2. 2-10 shift was the worst because my ex wife used to wait up for me and be wanting to go to bed no later than 11 when i was still wide awake trying to chill out enough for bed. I ended up drinking to try and feel tired but i often didn't feel tired till between 00-30 to 2am.

When the company went fully automated they put us on 4 continental 12 hour shifts and again i often worked 60 hours for the extra money that a mortgage and kids demanded. I felt shift work was slowly killing me and draining happiness from my soul. Clocking in and out on repeat doing a job i did on autopilot year on year was a means to an end i felt, but i did it because it payed the bills and allowed us to have a decent car and go on holidays.

I was lucky enough to get out of working shifts and to work the length and breadth of mainland UK at heights in mobile telecommunications as a trainee. I soon progressed as i loved the job and did it 16 years before hanging up my rigging boots. That job was full on much more intense and demanding than any other job I've had but at least i wasn't clocking on and off working soul destroying shift work, especially on nights which are only fit for bats and vampires imo.