Richmondfox Posted 11 October 2015 Posted 11 October 2015 I work Night Shifts in my job, 19:30 - 07:30 as well as Days 07:30 - 19:30. The pattern is 5 on 5 off, 4 on 4 off. Granted it's not back breaking work but it is sitting in front of a 30ft wide screen monitoring Freeview and several computer screens managing the equipment. It's important to stay focused and on it if a fault happens in the early hours and I have to deal with it. I have energy drinks still but not as often as I would, now it's quality coffee, vitamins, less processed food and decent sleep. I prefer working 12hr shifts as it means I get more days off for what I want to do. You have to write off the time before and after shifts, Friday night pint can turn into not sleeping then going to work for 07:30. Food is a big issue when working long shifts. When I first started my current job I put on 2 stone in 6 months without noticing but lost it and more in a few months hard training. The down side to shifts is when the missus has a bank holiday and it falls on my day off, she wants to do something as it's extra for her but for me it's my usual day of Nordic Dramas, Netflix, gym , Playstation and foxestalk. think my plan is what some shit on netflix or a film or something in a bit, fall asleep naturally in the early hours. with no alarm i'll easily cruise through til past midday, have enough time pre-shift to enjoy a "day off" and still not be falling asleep mid shift. then hopefully by the end of the first shift i'll be as tired as i am at the end of a normal day so be able to get off to bed and be in a tidy little cycle for the rest of the week. that's the plan anyway, probs be on here at some ludicrous hour in a few days time crying about not having slept for 3 days or something After my last Night shift I usually go to bed at 8:30 and wake up around 2pm then go to bed about 10pm and up at 7am for all my days off so I end up having more of a day, prefer to have an afternoon nap to a lie in. If you have problems sleeping I use ZMA's, they are natural Zinc tablets used to give restful sleep and help repair muscle after training, the side effect is they give you really vivid dreams.
Hollism Posted 11 October 2015 Posted 11 October 2015 Scouse will you be working at your desk? If so then you'll definitely want to sleep as late as possible. Most people can go 24 hours without sleep- I can do about 50 at a real push- but being sat down all night when you've been awake for that long is not good. It will take a few nights to find out what's optimal for you but the plan you've got at the minute for night one sounds good to me
DB11 Posted 11 October 2015 Posted 11 October 2015 What do people eat on night shifts? I tend to just have a bowl of porridge
Hollism Posted 11 October 2015 Posted 11 October 2015 Usually just a sandwich. Sometimes a pot noodle
DB11 Posted 22 October 2015 Posted 22 October 2015 Just done a couple of night shifts. Yesterday I must have only slept for about five hours and so before I even went to work I was tired and yawning - was worried how I'd cope! Got through it without really feeling tired but as soon as I started driving home I was knackered and now I'm straight off to sleep
The Quick Brown Fox Posted 22 October 2015 Posted 22 October 2015 What do people eat on night shifts? I tend to just have a bowl of porridge I don't eat much on my night shift week. I eat dinner with the Mrs at 5/6 then I'm not hungry through the night. Only get about 3 to 4 hours sleep a day. A bit of a shitty week really.
fuchsntf Posted 23 October 2015 Posted 23 October 2015 My early working life, Including apprenticeship, I enjoyed night shift, mainly because we did 12hr shifts. The money made it more than worth while, plus the extra days off, at convenient times allowing you to do , in the old days banking, or casual shopping.The odd time if you got the production, or m/cs set up (toolmaker) completed, you went for an early breakfast (24hr canteen), and you was allowed to go home, earlier. When I was a Contractor, I did a 36 hr stint and the odd 24 hr, in the middle of Africa, there wasnt much to do other than sleep work, read, neither TV,or PCs, were an option.The crazy periods were caused usually because emergencies and situations. On the whole I think the different people who maybe forced to do night shift, or just dont like them, each individual has to find their own solutions, if its for long periods or over a few years, try different things out, before sticking to anxthing somebody else tells you.It helps firstly if you learn to enjoy your job, or at least the most part. In IT in europe, I also enjoyed night shifts, we used to cover each other so we could go out for a drink, often the management knew, but they were ok with it, so long as the workcwas proffesionally done, and no repercussions.Plus they knew if necessary our groups would stay longer to complete any runnovers because of comms queues.
Larry_LCFC Posted 23 October 2015 Posted 23 October 2015 I always hit that brick wall at about 4am if I'm not busy and my eyes feel like they wont stay open. Seem to come through at about 5 and im wide awake again. As soon as my head hits the pillow at 7 ish, I'm out cold. Nothing will wake me up.
Samilktray Posted 12 November 2015 Posted 12 November 2015 Got 2 night shifts ahead of me and I'm awake and yawning already. Don't start work for another 11 hours.
Wymsey Posted 12 November 2015 Posted 12 November 2015 Just had a 02:00-09:00 shift. Went to bed at 18:00 yesterday, but felt knackered when waking up at 00:30. Body system quite messed up atm.
lestajigs Posted 12 November 2015 Posted 12 November 2015 yes they are mate it's good in the respect i never work saturday day time means i can always go football, but by tuesday i feel like death. I wouldn't advise shift work at all Yea, but knowing all Saturday "I've gotta go work tonight!" Absolutely wrecks my day
lestajigs Posted 12 November 2015 Posted 12 November 2015 I always hit that brick wall at about 4am if I'm not busy and my eyes feel like they wont stay open. Seem to come through at about 5 and im wide awake again. As soon as my head hits the pillow at 7 ish, I'm out cold. Nothing will wake me up.. Yea you get your second wind about 5
Samilktray Posted 13 November 2015 Posted 13 November 2015 So after being awake for 23 hours yesterday due to working my first night shift, I managed 4 hours sleep today. Thank fvck I only have this last 1 tonight, these are brutal.
z-layrex Posted 13 November 2015 Posted 13 November 2015 I just did 6 13 hour night shifts in a row. I always feel like shit between them and I haven't found any way to make it better to be honest. But that's nursing, ruins your life.
Guest Posted 13 November 2015 Posted 13 November 2015 I just did 6 13 hour night shifts in a row. I always feel like shit between them and I haven't found any way to make it better to be honest. That's a harsh run of them. Do you get a decent length of time off in between runs to recuperate?
z-layrex Posted 13 November 2015 Posted 13 November 2015 That's a harsh run of them. Do you get a decent length of time off in between runs to recuperate? No back on 13 hour day Sunday. As I said, that's nursing.
DB11 Posted 20 November 2015 Posted 20 November 2015 I've just spent nine hours of my night shift sat down, doing nothing. And I mean just sat down - who knew sitting down and doing nothing for so long could be so tiring?! My legs were aching, I was getting uncomfortable and struggling to keep my eyes open. Now off to bed!
AyewJoking Posted 22 November 2015 Posted 22 November 2015 I've just spent nine hours of my night shift sat down, doing nothing. And I mean just sat down - who knew sitting down and doing nothing for so long could be so tiring?! My legs were aching, I was getting uncomfortable and struggling to keep my eyes open. Now off to bed! Office workers do that everyday
ozleicester Posted 23 November 2015 Posted 23 November 2015 I've just spent nine hours of my night shift sat down, doing nothing. And I mean just sat down - who knew sitting down and doing nothing for so long could be so tiring?! My legs were aching, I was getting uncomfortable and struggling to keep my eyes open. Now off to bed! Its bad all round... highly recommend getting up and walking around even if its only for 5 mins every hour. Important to keep the circulation moving... i juggle, 5 mins of standing and juggling gets the whole body moving, bending etc (I dont juggle well).
Vardinhio Posted 23 November 2015 Posted 23 November 2015 I've just spent nine hours of my night shift sat down, doing nothing. And I mean just sat down - who knew sitting down and doing nothing for so long could be so tiring?! My legs were aching, I was getting uncomfortable and struggling to keep my eyes open. Now off to bed! so lazy mate
Guest Posted 24 November 2015 Posted 24 November 2015 Night 1 of 4. Surprisingly awake after being up since 0700 yesterday morning. No matter how long I've been doing these for (on and off for about 10 years now) sometimes there's no rhyme or reason for how awake you feel
ScouseFox Posted 10 January 2016 Posted 10 January 2016 we go again. 7 in a row. 56 hours of nights in the next week. staying up super late tonight to get in the mood.
Raj Posted 10 January 2016 Posted 10 January 2016 I just did 6 13 hour night shifts in a row. I always feel like shit between them and I haven't found any way to make it better to be honest. But that's nursing, ruins your life.Are you allowed to do over 12 hours??? No union rule?
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