Shift work - nights
Discussion
Elroy Blue said:
So you’ve done seven months and you’re already looking to jump ship from response.
I think you need to find a new career.
Whilst response isn't what I want to so forever (traffic or POLIT/child protection are my long term goals), im happy to stay on response for a few years first. It's easier to move stations which have different shift patterns after my probation. I think you need to find a new career.
But length of service isn't a reason not to move off response.
Back on topic.
Coped well with NYE. Although around 0500 it was a struggle, but that was because of how quiet it was.
Home by 0700 and slept well until 1345.
Got my first set of nights 2100 to 0700. But have to leave mine at 1915 and won't get back until 0800ish. Girlfriend is on strict instructions to let me sleep. I might try and stay awake until 10 and try and sleep until just before I need to leave like I would for a early shift.
LosingGrip said:
Got my first set of nights 2100 to 0700. But have to leave mine at 1915 and won't get back until 0800ish. Girlfriend is on strict instructions to let me sleep. I might try and stay awake until 10 and try and sleep until just before I need to leave like I would for a early shift.
So a 1h45m commute there, but 1h back - how does that work? Public transport? BFleming said:
So a 1h45m commute there, but 1h back - how does that work? Public transport?
Like to get there a little early (kitted up and ready for parade 20 minutes before). Parking can be a pain as can't park at work. Its anything from 60-80 minutes each way, normally get parked up and kitted up by half past. Gives me a bit of a buffer. No traffic on the way home so can go across town (I avoid this during the day as the main road has roadworks at the moment).
CharlieH89 said:
I’ve had a read of this thread as May sometime I’ll be on nights in a completely new job doing 5 nights on 4 off 
Have to complete training and pass out first, more importantly.
How do people sleep on the days that they have off?
I finish my last night, have a sleep and get up about 1ish then go to bed at a normal time of about 10:40.Have to complete training and pass out first, more importantly.
How do people sleep on the days that they have off?
Gary C said:
One thing I would say about nights that I never thought I would.
Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
What site you at.? be cryptic if you like rather than say.Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
I'm assuming EDF ? Ops ?
Brads67 said:
Gary C said:
One thing I would say about nights that I never thought I would.
Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
What site you at.? be cryptic if you like rather than say.Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
I'm assuming EDF ? Ops ?
Gary C said:
Brads67 said:
Gary C said:
One thing I would say about nights that I never thought I would.
Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
What site you at.? be cryptic if you like rather than say.Once you get past 50, they get harder. While I'm sleeping better than ever, I'm feeling the actual shifts more than ever.
Oh well, only 5 years and Im ooot
I'm assuming EDF ? Ops ?
Another 10 years for me !!!
I’ve worked a right old mix of shift and day work. Currently on 2 days 2 nights 4 off fixed roster included working Xmas eve and Xmas day nights just gone (turkey dinner with the family for breakfast was a bit of a struggle).
When I worked nights full time I managed to switch so I woke up went to work then had my evening in the morning so to speak. Once I managed to do this I was ok. This isn’t possible on my current pattern as I’m too tired to stay up, if I fought it really struggled to sleep and it made it difficult to switch back to normal.
I do have a ‘bugger off’ sign on the front door, it is surprising that any of us get deliveries as most drivers do not seem to be able to read...
When I worked nights full time I managed to switch so I woke up went to work then had my evening in the morning so to speak. Once I managed to do this I was ok. This isn’t possible on my current pattern as I’m too tired to stay up, if I fought it really struggled to sleep and it made it difficult to switch back to normal.
I do have a ‘bugger off’ sign on the front door, it is surprising that any of us get deliveries as most drivers do not seem to be able to read...
First set of nights went well! First night was a bit tricky as couldn't lie in!
Stayed up until 0915 on the first morning and slept until 1800.
Yesterday I got into bed at 0830ish and woke at 1640. Happy with that. Downside was it was stupidly quiet so was a struggle towards the end.
Decided im going to try and stay awake until 2000 tonight, then get up at 0800 tomorrow...thats the plan anyway!
Can't remember if ive said, but ive got an eye mask and some headphones now to play some white noise. Works brilliantly. I've been sleeping like a log!
Stayed up until 0915 on the first morning and slept until 1800.
Yesterday I got into bed at 0830ish and woke at 1640. Happy with that. Downside was it was stupidly quiet so was a struggle towards the end.
Decided im going to try and stay awake until 2000 tonight, then get up at 0800 tomorrow...thats the plan anyway!
Can't remember if ive said, but ive got an eye mask and some headphones now to play some white noise. Works brilliantly. I've been sleeping like a log!
Poisson96 said:
I'm presuming the safety critical jobs take more out of you but pass quicker? Mine can go dead and unless you're actually at the problem is pretty much 0 risk but can drag
Not really, like an airline pilot. Hours of nothing happening but routine checks and paperwork (and Tea)With very occasional bum clenching times.
Simulator is fun though.
I did shifts in my early twenties as a Customs Officer - back in those days it was 24/7 cover and we boarded every ship that arrived. This was in Shetland so the weather was pretty rough in winter especially. It was possible to be hanging around for some arrival or other which could be boring, but we also had paperwork to do and regular patrols of quays etc. so with "Moby Dick" to read the time passed OK. Physically I found it not too much of a problem as in those days I could sleep anytime there was a chance, though I doubt I'd manage now at 65! Some of my wife's relatives were fishermen, who worked long and erratic hours in a dangerous environment - they had the knack of snatching even half an hour if there was a quiet moment.
I have been a shift worker for 15 years now. I never get more than 4hrs sleep when on a run of nightshifts, thankfully the most I do is 4 in a row.
I try to sleep when I can in the morning so I maintain a normalish daytime routine and not become a nocturnal recluse but tbh I've given up trying to manage it properly now, I'm sure there are lots of better ways to cope with NS better but life just gets in the way.
No nightshift pattern is ideal. Usually Its a ballance of inconvenience v money.
A plus side for me is shift work has allowed me to bring my early retirement forward but then I probably need to due to the bloody shift work
Electricity Distribution Control Engineer btw
I try to sleep when I can in the morning so I maintain a normalish daytime routine and not become a nocturnal recluse but tbh I've given up trying to manage it properly now, I'm sure there are lots of better ways to cope with NS better but life just gets in the way.
No nightshift pattern is ideal. Usually Its a ballance of inconvenience v money.
A plus side for me is shift work has allowed me to bring my early retirement forward but then I probably need to due to the bloody shift work
Electricity Distribution Control Engineer btw
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.
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.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff