Switched to graveyard shift

DocBartend

Senior member
Oct 22, 2001
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I just took the graveyard shift for a change and i love it b/c i get work done uninterrupted. But switching from 6-3 to 11pm-7am is crazy hard. When i get home i sleep for maybe 2-3 hours and then i can do no more.
How do you make the switch? My drives home from Nashville are like 1.5 hours and i about pass out. A pot of coffee only lasts a while, Red Bull is bad mmkay.
Do you graveyard shifters sleep a lot in the day?
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
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You're supposed to sleep during the day when you work the graveyard shift.
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
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How long have you been on the new shift? It usually takes your body some time to adjust to the new schedule.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
i smoke to normalize my sleep cycles, whenever i need more sleep i just smoke until i pass out ^_^

//edit, i work graveyard 11-7 Fri/Sat and then 3-11 alot of the other days, AND i have another job, so i need to change the times i sleep alot
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
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81
You have to sleep dumbass :p

Sleep like from when you get home till 1-2 PM. Then enjoy the rest of the day till work :)
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
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lol, I guess something is natural to me. I am a nocturnal. I would love to work the graveyard shift.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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I've been working graveyard for 13 years and I just go home and sleep. It can be super noisy outside and the sun can be shining in my face...doesn't matter. I usually sleep about 6-7 hours, and then every few weeks I do a 20+ hour sleep.

3rd shift is the best shift IMO...I wouldn't want to work anything else regardless of pay...
 

stars

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2002
1,068
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Eat healthy while at work. Treat it like a 1st shift schedule. Stay up when you get in from work till 12 or so like you would normally in the evenings. Then grab 7/8 hours of sleep. Should allow you plenty of time to get to work.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
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I work from 9pm to 7:30am on nightshift. I usually sleep from 10-11am to between 3-7:30pm. On the weekends, I am usually up all the time starting from when I get up for work Thursday evening to monday morning, then I sleep all monday till about 6pm. You have to get used to it, give it a couple months, stick with it, and soon, you'll be able to sleep no matter what conditions are like in the middle of the day.

PS: thick, dark curtains or blinds help during the adjusting period.
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
10,868
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When I worked Graveyard .. I just said fvck it, and slept behind my desk.

I did have people banging at my door a couple times tho






 

Last Rezort

Banned
Apr 16, 2005
1,816
0
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Originally posted by: DocBartend
I just took the graveyard shift for a change and i love it b/c i get work done uninterrupted. But switching from 6-3 to 11pm-7am is crazy hard. When i get home i sleep for maybe 2-3 hours and then i can do no more.
How do you make the switch? My drives home from Nashville are like 1.5 hours and i about pass out. A pot of coffee only lasts a while, Red Bull is bad mmkay.
Do you graveyard shifters sleep a lot in the day?

Yeah, sleep in the day is cool, but i like Aderal.
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,974
140
106
..I worked grave for 10+years..I slept from 11:00am till 6or 7pm. Even on my days off. I used melatonin sometimes. Working graveshift is a discipline..if you don't have any you'll eventually have lots of problems at work and at home. Sleep will find you sooner or later. There is no escape.
 

DocBartend

Senior member
Oct 22, 2001
366
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0
Yeah i love the night. Ever since bartending, i have been a night owl. I guess my body will get used to this all. I think if i move to Nashville instead of commuting it would be easier. I understand i need to sleep in the day but it's much harder to do that i thought. I'm going on 3 hours sleep now and i feel ok. And i agree, the graveyard shift seems to be a great shift. Now i have time for more ATOT.
 

Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
3,758
4
81
Get off work, go home. Eat some breakfast to put something on your stomach. Then take a cool shower. Turn a movie on, something like the first matrix that is all dark... and turn a fan on. Youll be out like a light, and wont wake up for about 6 hours. If you do, Nytol will help you get some z's
 

KokomoGSTmp

Senior member
Aug 29, 2004
412
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I don't work graveyard but night shift. Ocassionally I have to do the standard morning schedule and changing my sleep schedule for it always kicks my @$$.

I definitely enjoy waking up whenever I want though... but working when everyone else is out of work does kinda suck. At least you're paid more for graveyard... are you?? (It's law in my state at least)
 

DocBartend

Senior member
Oct 22, 2001
366
0
0
nah, we arent paid more for GY shift. I do enjoy missing meetings although i have to call in to listen to them occassionally.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
Originally posted by: deftron
When I worked Graveyard .. I just said fvck it, and slept behind my desk.

I did have people banging at my door a couple times tho

:thumbsup: I recommend this approach. Of course if you sleep too much at work then it may be harder to get sleep at home.