Graveyard Shift Starting to lose its lustre

[Spectre38]

Don't get me wrong here. In todays economic situation any job, is a good job. I am not complaining for having one and a relatively stable one... I am just a bit burnt out on graveyard.

After 29 continuous years of working nights... It loses some of its glamour.

[GradyPhilpott]

I actually came to enjoy night shifts, including graveyards. Some of my night shift jobs were both the swing shift and the graveyard shift, usually from 6pm to 6am.

Another thing I came to appreciate was working weekends and having two days off during the week, even if they were not consecutive.

But, of course, if you've been at it for 29 years, I guess you deserve to be a bit tired of it.

[joeychitwood]

I worked 12-hour day and night shifts, often alternating twice in a week, for 30 years. And I never adjusted to them. Even working several nights in a row, I could not sleep more than a few hours during the day. Night shifts were the hardest physical and mental stress of the ER job.

[Spectre38]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I actually came to enjoy night shifts, including graveyards. Some of my night shift jobs were both the swing shift and the graveyard shift, usually from 6pm to 6am.

It has some good points, but it has drawbacks as well.

Good... Less management breathing down your neck.
Bad ... Management doesn't see what you do, so it gets overlooked.

Good... You're off during the day so things are open.
Bad ... Youre tired and need to sleep while things are open.

I could go on and on....

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I worked 12-hour day and night shifts, often alternating twice in a week, for 30 years. And I never adjusted to them. Even working several nights in a row, I could not sleep more than a few hours during the day. Night shifts were the hardest physical and mental stress of the ER job.

My job doesn't have the kind of stress that is involved with an ER... So, thank you for what you do... or did.

[BigBlue1]

Not anymore do I but I use to work endless overnight shifts, not quite overnight shifts but frequently turned into them.
I hated it in a way. My shifts were somewhat sporadic so I could never get a continuous sleep pattern down.
I was young then so adjustment was easy.

[Bigblu10]

I did it for 6 years. It takes a negative toll on the body and sleep cycle. Especially in the summertime when daylight is from early morning until 8 or 9 at night. You try to sleep during these sunlight hours when folks are outdoor mowing their lawns, and other things which keep you from getting good sleep. Night shift has also shown that folks who work it are less likely to live as long as those who sleep at night and work during the day. Let's face it, humans were not made to be nocturnal by design.

[dba]

George Orwell was quoted as saying, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on their behalf.” For close to twenty years, I was one of those rough men standing ready, out in the night.

And I loved every minute of it.

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Night shift has also shown that folks who work it are less likely to live as long as those who sleep at night and work during the day. Let's face it, humans were not made to be nocturnal by design.

There was a study several years ago which showed that working rotating day and night shifts had the same effect on lifespan as smoking two packs of cigarettes per day.

[TheVTCGuy]

I stood my share of night alert as a Navy Pilot, on a carrier at sea and sometimes on the base in the States. Alert 5 you had to be in the cockpit, fully suited up and able to take off in five minutes. At 0300 in the middle of the Ocean it was a visceral experience. I swear my sleep patterns are messed up to this day.

[HogwldFLTR]

I worked most of the past 10 years on nights. I'm glad to be done with that. I've been back to days for about 1.5 years. Back to 5X8 instead of alternating 3/4X12s.That's a relief as well.

[kwcsports]

I've worked nights ( 8pm-4am ) for over 20 years now and it does take its toll. When I started it, I would golf most days, sleep a few hours and go back to work for another night. As I've gotten older it's tougher. I'm 54 now and have cut my work sched to 3-10 hour shifts a week. This has helped a lot and gives me a better work life balance. 4 more years I'm retiring.

[TheVTCGuy]

When the casinos were open, I played poker once or twice a month. Nothing high stakes, if I went home even it was a good night but usually lost $100. I enjoyed the game of course but had friends There and we would have dinner at the Buffet, stuff like that. There is one dealer, worked graveyard, and on the rare nights I stayed that late we would chat. He absolutely loved that night shift, said it gave him time with his kids, time to work on his car, go hiking with his girlfriend. He said he slept a couple hours when he got home and about six in the evening before reporting to work at 12:00. I honestly don’t know how he did it but swore it was the best schedule. More power to him.

[kwcsports]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

When the casinos were open, I played poker once or twice a month. Nothing high stakes, if I went home even it was a good night but usually lost $100. I enjoyed the game of course but had friends There and we would have dinner at the Buffet, stuff like that. There is one dealer, worked graveyard, and on the rare nights I stayed that late we would chat. He absolutely loved that night shift, said it gave him time with his kids, time to work on his car, go hiking with his girlfriend. He said he slept a couple hours when he got home and about six in the evening before reporting to work at 12:00. I honestly don’t know how he did it but swore it was the best schedule. More power to him.

I felt the same way when I was younger ^^^^ I loved working nights. As I said earlier, it's harder as I get older. I too am in the Casino business and working nights is when it's fun. Day time in Casinos is boring.

[airchitect]

My Dad worked 2nd and 3rd for 40yrs..... can’t sleep past 4am to this day. Been retired for a decade.

[Chewbacca]

The thread title is an absolute classic.

[THC]

Worked Graveyard at a Casino for a few years and came to love it... now? No too old

[donas]

Originally Posted by dba

George Orwell was quoted as saying, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on their behalf.” For close to twenty years, I was one of those rough men standing ready, out in the night.

And I loved every minute of it.

Me too!.....almost my entire career was night shift

[Dr.Brian]

I can’t stand night call. It used to be fine, now it messes me up for days.
I took a job with limited call, and I still give most of it away.

[Wcdhtwn]

Night Shift, great movie!

[BNA/LION]

Never worked a night shift and Never Would. I like to stay up late for fun and sleep the next day. I'm glad he found what he likes or works for him.

[junamuan]

I can't imagine myself working night shift. I did it once, 11pm - 7am. I lost weight and messed up my sleeping pattern. I feel zombie during the day. I quit after 5months.

[map782]

I worked the night shift for 2 years. I received a rank promotion and that was the only shift available. The increased pay was great but the hours were not ideal for me. As soon as another shift opened I jumped on it. I never imagined that I would work 0530-1330 but I actually liked it more and worked it for the last 20 years. I still had to go in occasionally to handle things or for emergencies but at least I didn't have to stay. People who work midnights are definitely wired differently than I was.

[joeychitwood]

There is a well known saying in the ER. “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I found myself have a more negative view of humanity while working nights.

[donas]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

There is a well known saying in the ER. “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I found myself have a more negative view of humanity while working nights.

Similar in law enforcement, I found it much easier to find the criminals after 2 or so, kinda like shooting fish in a barrel

For those who still work night shift, get yourself a good sleep mask! I attended a survival seminar by Lt Col. Grossman and he turned me onto the idea. It makes me sleep so much more sound, I still use one even sleeping during "normal" hours.

[Crunchie]

I’ve just finished a run of seven night shifts at 8am Friday and now have a “long weekend” off before starting back on Monday morning at 04.50.
The company motto has now been changed to “Stop moaning, you’re lucky to have a job”, and the next pay rise or chance to improve the work-life balance looks a very long way away.

[logo]

Ugh, this thread conjures up bad memories of residency and grad school. I’m a night owl, but couldn’t do regular night work anymore.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Crunchie

I’ve just finished a run of seven night shifts at 8am Friday and now have a “long weekend” off before starting back on Monday morning at 04.50.
The company motto has now been changed to “Stop moaning, you’re lucky to have a job”, and the next pay rise or chance to improve the work-life balance looks a very long way away.

Ouch!!! Sleep well!!!

[1William]

In my 30 year career I worked for years on midnight shift and when I was young, I found it exciting. As I got older, not so much. I saw some co-workers suffer with sleep issues and many abused alcohol and caffeine in an attempt to cope. I learned early on that my diet, exercise, disciplined sleep and a lack of substances beyond the norm, coffee, made for a better experience. I have been retired almost 7 years and have adjusted to sleeping regularly. I sometimes think of my co-workers who are still at it when I am going to bed at a reasonable hour.

[kearez]

Worked night shift for a few years, found it terrible. Didn’t help I had have a rotating shift next day. Leave at 0730 have to be back at 1600. I agree with Joey, had a huge negative effect on my health.

I know a few people who have continued to work that, abusing alcohol and caffeine is common. Now what can you eat at 1am when you get hungry? Fast food or fast food.

I’ve never been happier working my office job, I have no issue needed to work on a weekend to finish a project.

[joeychitwood]

I’ve been retired from the ER for eight years, and I still am grateful every single night that I can go to bed at a good time and wake up naturally in the morning. If I live to be 80, I’ll still feel that daily happy feeling of not working nights.