Electing to work graves

[pstylesss]

So I have a new supervisor, which I'm happy about. I've been working with him for three years and we get along. My work day the entire time I've been working here has been typically 8 - 5, 7 - 3.30 (when I didnt take lunch), or 9 - 6 if I wanted. It's always been very flexible.

My new boss has given my coworker and I the option to chose a shift and he'll okay it if it works out. I was thinking a 3AM - 11AM shift would be nice, so far he has no problems with it and thinks it'll be good. I'm a night person anyway and have a hard time waking up in the mornings, but at night I'm wide awake and have zero problems. I love the idea of no traffic also. Having daylight to do housework or errands also seems nice.

My problem is that my girlfriend's school hours are 7 - 2.30, and when she is able to pick up a job again I imagine she would be working until 6 or so, and then she may have homework to do. My biggest, and really my only concern here is making sure that I will be able to spend time with her and our relationship wont suffer because of my work schedule.

Those that have worked graves, how have you done your sleep schedule? Did you wake up right before work or go to sleep as soon as you got home?

No cliffs, I'm sick of typing after all that.

Thanks!

 

[Colt45]

i hated them, turned into a zombie. (moreso than normal)

 

[Godsend1]

I've worked graves on and off for years. The shift you're talking about, 3-11 would not be to my liking. I'm on a 10-6 now, and am in bed by 8am, then up at 3pm. I'm married with 3 kids and the Wife works a flexible dayshift at our church so the way I have my schedule set up works really well. I see the kids before they go to school and I'm usually up be fore they get home.

If you can handle the 3-11 I say go for it.

 

[oiprocs]

Is she is worth giving up the opportunity to get work hours that fit your lifestyle?

I think not. Find another girl.

 

[olds]

I've worked graves before. It can be hard and dirty work but there is the satisfaction that you are doing a service for people in a time of need. If you live in a cold climate, make sure they have a backhoe. When it's frozen it's hard work to dig a grave.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: obscenethistle
Is she is worth giving up the opportunity to get work hours that fit your lifestyle?

I think not. Find another girl.

Yes, she is. My work will never take precedence over my family.

 

[Paladin3]

For years I worked a mix of day and swing shifts with the occasional graveyard. I felt like a zombie (vampire?) anytime I couldn't get home and to bed before the sun came up. A set night shift like you are talking about wouldn't be as bad, hell, that's almost an early day shift, but it can really fuck with you if you don't make sure to get your 8 hours of sleep every day. If you sleep right after work and then are up for several hours before going back, you are shifting your work day to the end of your wake cycle when you are likely to be the most tired and winding down energy wise. Still, I can see how a shift like that would be attractive to you.

In the end I am personally more happy working day shifts, especially if I force myself to bed at a decent hour, which it sounds like you are not doing. Nobody is going to have an easy time getting up mornings if they are awake all night.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ

Originally posted by: obscenethistle
Is she is worth giving up the opportunity to get work hours that fit your lifestyle?

I think not. Find another girl.

Yes, she is. My work will never take precedence over my family.

FYI a gf isn't family but to you she's more important than work so you've made up your mind so you're not going to work the nightshift then.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Godsend1
I've worked graves on and off for years. The shift you're talking about, 3-11 would not be to my liking. I'm on a 10-6 now, and am in bed by 8am, then up at 3pm. I'm married with 3 kids and the Wife works a flexible dayshift at our church so the way I have my schedule set up works really well. I see the kids before they go to school and I'm usually up be fore they get home.

If you can handle the 3-11 I say go for it.

That sounds like a pretty good arrangement!

 

[RedCOMET]

I usually work 6 pm to 6am shift. ( or sometimes midnight to noon). I'm fairly tired after work. I usually eat breakfast, then try to be in bed by 8am. I usually wake up between 4-430 pm. Sometimes i'll work out before or after my shift. Other times i'll un-wind by watching a movie/ reading/ etc. Doesn't leave much time to do errands, but luckily when i'm off from work, its usually for 5-14 days at a times (oil field). I 'm sure i can find time then.

If it was an 8 hour shift like normal people, I wouldn't mind a graveyard shift every now and then. Just keep in mind it not for everyone. More power to you OP if you and GF can make it work. For your situation, i'm sure if you can nap for like 6 - 7 hours, then you should be able to spend a decent amoount of time with your gal.

 

[shortylickens]

Very few people are truly nocturnal. Most folks who think they are, arent. They're just party animals. But working those kinds of hours is bad for the body.
I had insomnia for a while and read plenty of books on the subject. The human body is designed to be awake and active when the sun is up. Working nights is actually bad for you, it causes damage. This was confirmed by talking to several doctors when I had a night job. They all said the same thing: "This job is killing you. Transfer to days or quit."

Eventually I got fired for being useless on the job. 18 months and I was still dragging my ass every night. All it did was screw up my health.
As for the relationship thing: I didnt have one solid, long-term relationship in that entire 18 months. That combined with the insomnia made me a miserable person.

Dont do it. Thats my advice.

 

[imported_Dingster1]

I've been working nights for about 6 years now. Its great for me. When my son was smaller, I could be at home with him during the day for appointments and stuff, drop him off before I left with a friend who who bring him to me in the mornings. Now i work 1130-0800 I never have to take time off, so much so that my boss has to call me and tell me to take vacation days because I have too much PTO.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I worked 10:30pm – 7am for four years. Horrible. Worst decision ever.
I never could sleep much if at all during the daytime and drank lots of Mountain Dew to get through the nights.
Screwed me up for years even after I quit the 3rd shift.
My relationship suffered, my health suffered. I became a zombie with a fried brain.
I didn't know I could go days on end without sleep. My brain is kicking me.

If you aren't sleeping right, quit before your body starts breaking down. Darken the house prior to going to bed to get your body conditioned for rest. Blackout the windows.
I always tried to sleep from noon 'til 8.

 

[pstylesss]

Thanks for all your input guys, I'm taking it into consideration. I think the best part about this job is that if I decide I don't like it in a week or two I can change back without issue. I guess I think it would be good for me because, for example, last night I couldn't sleep again, and I ended up staying up until 4AM tossing and turning.

FeuerFrei, I haven't been sleeping right since I was a little, little kid. I'm 20 now.

 

[TotalLamer]

I'm working 12-8:30 right now... it doesn't bother me, really. I definitely prefer it to 2nd shift, that much is for sure. I usually get to bed between 9 and 10... wake up around 5 or so. Works out for me. I really don't have problems sleeping during the day. I can be out for 7 or 8 hours, wake up, hang with the g/f when she gets back from school at 5 or so, play some WoW and head to work again. *shrugs*

 

[dmw16]

I wouldn't volunteer for an irregular shift like that. It doesn't sound all the pleasant and I think it will screw you. I would find it impossible to get on a regular sleep schedule.

Why do you want to do this?

 

[rbV5]

I've worked Graveyard for 12+ years. I've made it work for me since I work 12 hour shifts and put in an 80 hour workweek....and then get the following week off to recuperate.

I'm not a big fan and its probably taking a decade off my lifespan