Shift work - nights
Discussion
LosingGrip said:
Well sleeping after nights is ok...sleeping before an early shift is not...
Got into bed at 2130. Darkness, eyemask, white noise on which helped massively after later/nights.
Been laying in bed since then trying to sleep, maybe grabbed 30/40 minutes in that time.
Alatms go off at 0400. I've given up trying to sleep now.
Hopefully I'll be shattered in the evening and actually get some sleep.
Stupidly high pressure won't be helping, it's been silly high for the past couple of daysGot into bed at 2130. Darkness, eyemask, white noise on which helped massively after later/nights.
Been laying in bed since then trying to sleep, maybe grabbed 30/40 minutes in that time.
Alatms go off at 0400. I've given up trying to sleep now.
Hopefully I'll be shattered in the evening and actually get some sleep.
LosingGrip said:
Well sleeping after nights is ok...sleeping before an early shift is not...
Got into bed at 2130. Darkness, eyemask, white noise on which helped massively after later/nights.
Been laying in bed since then trying to sleep, maybe grabbed 30/40 minutes in that time.
Alatms go off at 0400. I've given up trying to sleep now.
Hopefully I'll be shattered in the evening and actually get some sleep.
I've been doing a mix of earlies and lates for 10 years. Got into bed at 2130. Darkness, eyemask, white noise on which helped massively after later/nights.
Been laying in bed since then trying to sleep, maybe grabbed 30/40 minutes in that time.
Alatms go off at 0400. I've given up trying to sleep now.
Hopefully I'll be shattered in the evening and actually get some sleep.
Changing to nights only (unless a vote changes it) after I finish training.
With earlies, the night before your first one you have to make sure you get to sleep at a decent time.
I make sure I am knackered. Have had food 3 hours before i'm trying to sleep without any sugar and I don't touch my phone. Being on my phone wakes me up and that's it then, no chance of 7 hours sleep but more like 4 hours sleep.
I'm currently in a pretty sedentary role and I couldn't imagine 4 hours sleep then being on my feet all day.
Actually looking forward to trying nights out and ditching 0430 alarms. A stint of a few earlies with no proper sleep makes for a s
tty few days.CharlieH89 said:
I've been doing a mix of earlies and lates for 10 years.
Changing to nights only (unless a vote changes it) after I finish training.
With earlies, the night before your first one you have to make sure you get to sleep at a decent time.
I make sure I am knackered. Have had food 3 hours before i'm trying to sleep without any sugar and I don't touch my phone. Being on my phone wakes me up and that's it then, no chance of 7 hours sleep but more like 4 hours sleep.
I'm currently in a pretty sedentary role and I couldn't imagine 4 hours sleep then being on my feet all day.
Actually looking forward to trying nights out and ditching 0430 alarms. A stint of a few earlies with no proper sleep makes for a stty few days.
I used to work permanent night shift. About 14 hrs, four night a week. With earplugs and blackout curtains, I had no problem sleeping. I went from that to rotating shifts. They were terrible. I was lucky as I could change role every couple of years and that got me back to normal.Changing to nights only (unless a vote changes it) after I finish training.
With earlies, the night before your first one you have to make sure you get to sleep at a decent time.
I make sure I am knackered. Have had food 3 hours before i'm trying to sleep without any sugar and I don't touch my phone. Being on my phone wakes me up and that's it then, no chance of 7 hours sleep but more like 4 hours sleep.
I'm currently in a pretty sedentary role and I couldn't imagine 4 hours sleep then being on my feet all day.
Actually looking forward to trying nights out and ditching 0430 alarms. A stint of a few earlies with no proper sleep makes for a s
tty few days.
I've got a st set of shifts coming up...
Thursday is the start of four earlier. 0700 to 1700. Alarms set for 0430 to leave at 0515. Back by 1800/1830ish.
Off for one day before another early and then two lates (1500 to 0000), then three off before five early shifts...thankfully one is 0800 to 1600 at a different station!
I've been trying to get to sleep at a reasonable time this week but failing...
Got into bed at 2130 and been wide awake since. Gave up a 30 minutes ago and picked up my phone.
Hoping that an early alarm (0800) and asking my girlfriend to wake me up in the morning along with my girlfriend being out until 2145 tonight will mean ill get to sleep early as ill be so tired!
March 5th I move stations...15 minute drive in the morning. I can't wait!
t set of shifts coming up...Thursday is the start of four earlier. 0700 to 1700. Alarms set for 0430 to leave at 0515. Back by 1800/1830ish.
Off for one day before another early and then two lates (1500 to 0000), then three off before five early shifts...thankfully one is 0800 to 1600 at a different station!
I've been trying to get to sleep at a reasonable time this week but failing...
Got into bed at 2130 and been wide awake since. Gave up a 30 minutes ago and picked up my phone.
Hoping that an early alarm (0800) and asking my girlfriend to wake me up in the morning along with my girlfriend being out until 2145 tonight will mean ill get to sleep early as ill be so tired!
March 5th I move stations...15 minute drive in the morning. I can't wait!
Been working shifts including nights for the last 18 years, hoping to jack it all in come august, currently I'm on the best shifts I've ever had.
4 days Thursday to Sunday 06.30 -17.55
Monday off
3 nights Tuesday to Thursday 19.00 -06.25
3 days off
3 days Monday to Wednesday 06.30 -17.55
Thursday off
4 nights Friday to Monday 19.00 -06.25
9 days off
Rinse and repeat
Hate days, getting up at 04.45 is a drag, don't mind the nights too much, and I've enquired about going part time just doing the night turns, if not available I'll just take my pension at 55 and sleep better for once.
4 days Thursday to Sunday 06.30 -17.55
Monday off
3 nights Tuesday to Thursday 19.00 -06.25
3 days off
3 days Monday to Wednesday 06.30 -17.55
Thursday off
4 nights Friday to Monday 19.00 -06.25
9 days off
Rinse and repeat
Hate days, getting up at 04.45 is a drag, don't mind the nights too much, and I've enquired about going part time just doing the night turns, if not available I'll just take my pension at 55 and sleep better for once.
One more early for me this week!
I overslept last week and woke up 35 minutes before work...an hour away. Thankfully work were fine with it (had to buy some cakes!).
Seven shifts left until I move stations. I can't wait! Struggling with them now.
I've just ordered a push bike to ride in on earlies and nights. Hoping the ride will help
.
I overslept last week and woke up 35 minutes before work...an hour away. Thankfully work were fine with it (had to buy some cakes!).
Seven shifts left until I move stations. I can't wait! Struggling with them now.
I've just ordered a push bike to ride in on earlies and nights. Hoping the ride will help
. jdw100 said:
What jobs are people doing to have night shifts?
Chemical plant with 24/7 production. Ops, so a very similar role as the lads on the nuclear plants. We just have cyanide and other nasties instead of the radioactive stuff.2x12 hour days, 2 x12 hour nights
4 on, 4 off, 4 on, 4 off, 4 on, 10 off, repeat.
When I started as a police officer, the pay was so bad that I had to work all but 3 days a month. Even then I ran gradually into debt and occasionally went without a break at all. The work was new, fun, my colleagues were great - real grafters - and I enjoyed it, but it began to tell after a time. On my days off I would just sit around, this despite having kids.
Some 25 years later, I had 3 days off a week, as I worked four 10-hour shifts, although these ended up as de facto 12-hour shifts with no overtime.
I felt so much more energetic with the 3 days off a week that it was remarkable. While I was working longer hours, travelling time was, rather obviously, shorter. Although it didn't quite balance out it was near enough. I got more done at work and a lot more done at home. In both cases I felt more imaginative in solutions to problems. One I did at work I'm quite proud of. Quicker, more precise, less to go wrong, and much cheaper. I wondered why no one had thought of it before, and the answer was that they were probably too nackered. There were, in theory at least, two extended breaks in the 12 hours. Although I was always on call for urgent stuff, and had to be available, it meant that I got no petty queries from those who could not be bothered to think it out themselves.
Yet the idea didn't have massive take-up around the force. I think, without evidence other than experience, that those who made the decisions were working five days a week and thought no one else, certainly middle-management, should be better off.
Some 25 years later, I had 3 days off a week, as I worked four 10-hour shifts, although these ended up as de facto 12-hour shifts with no overtime.
I felt so much more energetic with the 3 days off a week that it was remarkable. While I was working longer hours, travelling time was, rather obviously, shorter. Although it didn't quite balance out it was near enough. I got more done at work and a lot more done at home. In both cases I felt more imaginative in solutions to problems. One I did at work I'm quite proud of. Quicker, more precise, less to go wrong, and much cheaper. I wondered why no one had thought of it before, and the answer was that they were probably too nackered. There were, in theory at least, two extended breaks in the 12 hours. Although I was always on call for urgent stuff, and had to be available, it meant that I got no petty queries from those who could not be bothered to think it out themselves.
Yet the idea didn't have massive take-up around the force. I think, without evidence other than experience, that those who made the decisions were working five days a week and thought no one else, certainly middle-management, should be better off.
12 hour shifts wouldn't bother me too much I don't think. Only thing that I would worry about is if you are late off it becomes a very long day.
I've finally moved stations! My first shift is Wednesday. Early shifts are either 0700/0800 or I think 0900. Nine hours Sunday to Thursday and ten hours on Friday and Saturday.
Only do two early shifts in a row (unless I do overtime).
I'm 15 minutes away in the morning. 20 minutes for a late shift.
No more 0430 alarms, but 0530 now. Can't wait!
I've finally moved stations! My first shift is Wednesday. Early shifts are either 0700/0800 or I think 0900. Nine hours Sunday to Thursday and ten hours on Friday and Saturday.
Only do two early shifts in a row (unless I do overtime).
I'm 15 minutes away in the morning. 20 minutes for a late shift.
No more 0430 alarms, but 0530 now. Can't wait!
LosingGrip said:
12 hour shifts wouldn't bother me too much I don't think. Only thing that I would worry about is if you are late off it becomes a very long day.
I've finally moved stations! My first shift is Wednesday. Early shifts are either 0700/0800 or I think 0900. Nine hours Sunday to Thursday and ten hours on Friday and Saturday.
Only do two early shifts in a row (unless I do overtime).
I'm 15 minutes away in the morning. 20 minutes for a late shift.
No more 0430 alarms, but 0530 now. Can't wait!
Those early turns were a killer. I was once leaving the building and heading towards the car park after an ET. I was trying to advise a PC about going for promotion. As I got to the car park, I realised I could not remember where I'd parked the car. Easy enough, look for it. But I didn't know which car I'd come in. Easy enough, run the journey to work through my mind. I couldn't remember a thing of that day until the handing over briefing by the night inspector.I've finally moved stations! My first shift is Wednesday. Early shifts are either 0700/0800 or I think 0900. Nine hours Sunday to Thursday and ten hours on Friday and Saturday.
Only do two early shifts in a row (unless I do overtime).
I'm 15 minutes away in the morning. 20 minutes for a late shift.
No more 0430 alarms, but 0530 now. Can't wait!
I don't think there should be a 0430 in the morning.
Are shifts generally 12hrs now?
I worked a 3 shift system for a few years - 7AM to 3PM, 3PM to 11PM, 11PM to 7AM. Mon to Thurs of each with a short shift on Friday, finishing at mid-day, 5PM or 10PM.
Great thing was the shifts would fly by, and commuting at those times was usually pretty quick - after nights I'd be home and in bed by 7.30.
I worked a 3 shift system for a few years - 7AM to 3PM, 3PM to 11PM, 11PM to 7AM. Mon to Thurs of each with a short shift on Friday, finishing at mid-day, 5PM or 10PM.
Great thing was the shifts would fly by, and commuting at those times was usually pretty quick - after nights I'd be home and in bed by 7.30.
Sheepshanks said:
Are shifts generally 12hrs now?
I worked a 3 shift system for a few years - 7AM to 3PM, 3PM to 11PM, 11PM to 7AM. Mon to Thurs of each with a short shift on Friday, finishing at mid-day, 5PM or 10PM.
Great thing was the shifts would fly by, and commuting at those times was usually pretty quick - after nights I'd be home and in bed by 7.30.
Certainly most of our stations and teams work 12 hour shifts these days and we like 2 days, 2 nights 5 off and it would be almost impossible to reverse. It does mean there is a risk that teams could be less engaged on their first shift back as they catch up with what is going on, then disengaged on their last night so is not perfect and takes some work to ensure this doesn't affect things.I worked a 3 shift system for a few years - 7AM to 3PM, 3PM to 11PM, 11PM to 7AM. Mon to Thurs of each with a short shift on Friday, finishing at mid-day, 5PM or 10PM.
Great thing was the shifts would fly by, and commuting at those times was usually pretty quick - after nights I'd be home and in bed by 7.30.
I am on days at the moment until mid April, cant wait to get back on shift.
Derek Smith said:
I don't think there should be a 0430 in the morning.
To be fair that's my fault for moving during training. I was planning on moving once I knew where I was going to be stationed, but this place was too good to turn down. Worth it now as in the middle for me and my girlfriend. Both have a similar commute.
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