Does Anyone Here Work Shifts?

[naomi24]

I mean inconsistent and unsociable hours? If so how do you manage without a regular sleep pattern? Do you sleep well regardless of the time of day?

[gulliver1]

Think DTCwordfan works shifts at a Supermarket, Naomi.

[Milo2]

I have a relative who used to work shifts that included working days and nights. He said that sleeping during the day was often difficult particularly in Summer when neighbours were out mowing lawns or children were playing out.

[Meaghan27]

yes I work 12 hours night shifts usually to cover weekends at a veterinary practice group. I usually work Saturday and Sunday nights when needed and then have Monday off, work normal shifts Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with Friday off. I sleep better in the winter than the summer during the day, but don't sleep a full 8 hours, usually five or six.

[jno]

my OH used to work in a 24-hour office. Instead of splitting the day into three 8-hour shifts, it was two 12-hour shifts. You'd work three days on, three off. Every third bunch of three was the night shift, 9pm to 9am.

How did it work? Terribly, impossible to sleep consistently and very stressful. However, it suited some out-of-town people, who'd come in for the three days, sleep on a friend's floor somewhere, then go home for three days.

[tonyav]

I worked shifts for most of my working life ( up until retirement in January ). Not good in any way, social life, sleeping and eating patterns, I found it better when I was on a fixed shift which was nights as you do seem to get into some sort of routine as opposed to a three week rotating shift pattern. I wouldn't recommend it.

[jno]

I didn't realise you'd retired, tonyav, hope you're enjoying life and unable ever to say what day of the week it is.

[Gromit]

For the past year I have been working 2-10pm. Just changed and now working 6am -noon.
I was working four 8 hour shifts, and they have now put me on five 6 hour shifts. So I am working an extra day for 2 hows less wage.
I. Must admit I am struggling with the change at the moment.

[Toorak]

When I was a student I worked one summer on 12 hour night shifts from Thursday to Sunday. The three days I had off were too few to readjust and I fell into a very confused sleep pattern. When Thursday night came around it took a huge effort to stay awake and compos mentis. I was just grateful that it was a temporary job.

[tonyav]

I'm enjoying it so far, jno. Lovely to go to bed and get up when I feel like it, no alarm clock :-)

[andy-hughes]

I have never worked shifts, but it would be no problem to me at all - i can sleep literally anywhere at any time I wish, for any amount of time, long or short.

I can fall asleep in a busy park at midday on a summer's day and sleep soundly for hours, no problem.

I can always catnap in my car, for anything from five minutes to three hours.

When I was workng, and knackered from being out at gigs, I could catch fifteen minutes in a toilet cubicle, now that takes effort, but i can make myself sleep when I want to.

Try the circumstances next time you are in a public toilet cubicle. You can't lean because you will slide off the seat, so you have to sleep sitting upright on a seriously hard surface, with bright lights on, and people coming in and out and making 'noises' as well as flushing and washing hands.

I can do it, but I am just lucky to be made that way.

[tiggerblue10]

My ex friend was a paramedic and worked 3 x 12 hour shifts plus overtime. She seemed to manage ok but only slept a few hours during the day in between shifts and then had 3-4 straight days off where she caught up on night sleep.

[Gromit]

AH,
A bit different catching an odd catnap, than doing unsociable hours all the time. When your regular routine is working and sleeping when everyone else isn’t, it is tough.

[andy-hughes]

Gromit - // AH,
A bit different catching an odd catnap, than doing unsociable hours all the time. When your regular routine is working and sleeping when everyone else isn’t, it is tough. //

I take your point, but I was suggesting that sleeping odd hours when others are awake would not be a problem for me, but I completely sympathise with people who have to do it.

[bobbinwales]

//When I was workng, and knackered from being out at gigs, I could catch fifteen minutes in a toilet cubicle, now that takes effort, but i can make myself sleep when I want to.

Try the circumstances next time you are in a public toilet cubicle. You can't lean because you will slide off the seat, so you have to sleep sitting upright on a seriously hard surface, with bright lights on, and people coming in and out and making 'noises' as well as flushing and washing hands.//

I dont think I'll be trying it.... i can think of many much nicer, comfortabler, quieter and less smelly places to take a nap

[Maydup]

It’s 3am and I’m having trouble sleeping!

[Arksided]

Me too Maydup. I’ve always being a nocturnal creature, and I did used to work night shift security.
Before that it was 3 days 3 nights 3 off.

[Redhelen72]

Dad used to do 4 days on (2 days 2 nights) 4 days off, most of his working life , he never slept coming off the last night so he could get himself into a standard routine

[1ozzy]

I worked shifts many years ago.
These days I try to shift work.

[Paul22118]

Alternating shift work wrecks bodies. Many years ago, pre retirement, I was embarking on a nine week cycle of 6/2, 2/10 and 10/6. But because of the 24 7 cover required it meant that during the three week 'night' shift of 10pm to 6am there would have to be days off. On one occasion my days off were a Wed Thurs in week 2 of 3. I staggered to my bed at about half six on the Wed morning and collapsed into a deep sleep. I woke up feeling awful and found it was still only early evening. I had a bite and about 10pm I had a message to tell me I was late for work. I eventually realised what had happened, I had slept all through Wed and most of Thursday. My two 'rest' days were both spent in deep sleep. For other reasons I was able to change this shift pattern but many did not. How they survived I cannot fathom. Perhaps they didn't?

[barry1010]

I did it for a while and didn't cope at all well. Hard on the body and mind, bad for family and social life. I don't know how people do it for years and years.