|
Post by cropaholicnora on Aug 7, 2014 20:01:53 GMT
I've been working an overnight shift all week and it's led to me to wonder when do people who work overnights usually sleep. While I realize that it varies based on the person, I do have questions for those of you with experience. Is it better to come home and snooze for 8 straight? Is it better to come home, do your awake stuff and then sleep until it's time to get ready for work? Does sleeping for a few hours, doing your awake stuff, and then sleeping a few more hours work at all? Thanks in advance for your input.
|
|
oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
Jun 26, 2014 12:25:29 GMT
|
Post by oldcrow on Aug 7, 2014 20:11:25 GMT
I work straight days now. But I used to do one month of night shift and then one month of day shift and repeat and repeat.
I found it best for me to come home and have nap first thing and then get up and "try" to do whatever with the goal of going to bed at least 6 hours before time to get ready for work. In all those years I don't think I ever made my goal but I could do with about 4 hours sleep when working nights.
Day shift I have to have 8 hours of sleep or I don't function very well.
But each person is different and your home life can influence your choice.
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 7, 2014 20:13:41 GMT
My observations with a dh that works nights He leaves for work at 9:30 pm. He gets home at 6:50 am. He wakes me up, has a cup of coffee, feeds the dogs and then sits down to unwind for a bit (10-20 minutes). Then he goes to bed and sleeps until 1:00 - 2:00. Then he gets up and starts his day. He has two days off in a row so that is nice. But that means he doesn't like getting his full sleep on that first day off (Thursday). So on Thursdays he comes home, does his usual stuff and then sits in his recliner to watch his show. He always falls asleep and naps for 2-3 hours. Then he gets up and does his stuff. Thursdays are his grumpy day since he doesn't want to sleep on his day off but he needs to.
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer C on Aug 7, 2014 20:13:52 GMT
My dh works 5p to 5a. He comes home and generally makes something to eat and then gets on the computer for about an hour. He then heads to bed and wakes up at 2. He does it this way so that at least he can spend an hour with the kids when they get home at 3 from school. During the summer he keeps the same routine and still spends some time with the kids.
Jennifer
|
|
|
Post by cahwoo on Aug 7, 2014 20:19:13 GMT
My son in law works 3 days nights for 12 hours each then has 2 days off then works 3 day shift for 12 hours each. He's done this as long as I've known him. He comes home from night shift at 7 am and sleeps till 3 when the kids get home from school. He's done this as long as I've known him.. He naps the first day he's off then goes to bed for a nights sleep. I think it's an awful wat to have to work but I guess someone has to. He works at 3 Mile Island.
|
|
|
Post by pivibird on Aug 7, 2014 20:30:15 GMT
I'm a nurse and I work 3 12 hour shifts a week. I try to pu the together but it doesn't always work that way. I never get 8 hours of sleep, even when I sleep at night. I work 7-7:30 and get home around 8:30. I am up for about an hour or so then sleep till 3 or 4. My alarm is set for 4 but I usually wake at 3. After my last night I come home and nap for about an hour and convert to a day schedule. The night before my first night I stay up till about 1 and sleep till 9 then I'm up till I go to sleep the next day. Sounds complicated but it's not and it's the best solution I've found. It also works because we don't have kids.
|
|
krbeah
Junior Member
Posts: 92
Jun 25, 2014 22:27:48 GMT
|
Post by krbeah on Aug 7, 2014 20:31:57 GMT
My observations with a dh that works nights He leaves for work at 9:30 pm. He gets home at 6:50 am. He wakes me up, has a cup of coffee, feeds the dogs and then sits down to unwind for a bit (10-20 minutes). Then he goes to bed and sleeps until 1:00 - 2:00. Then he gets up and starts his day. He has two days off in a row so that is nice. But that means he doesn't like getting his full sleep on that first day off (Thursday). So on Thursdays he comes home, does his usual stuff and then sits in his recliner to watch his show. He always falls asleep and naps for 2-3 hours. Then he gets up and does his stuff. Thursdays are his grumpy day since he doesn't want to sleep on his day off but he needs to. When it's my turn in the barrel for night shift, this is my exact routine. I almost always have a grumpy day, as well!
|
|
|
Post by eebud on Aug 7, 2014 20:32:10 GMT
When DS was a toddler, I worked 2nd shift so maybe a bit different than what you are looking for. I was a single mom so no DH to worry about. I had childcare for DS with a police officer's wife. He worked the same hours I did and she kept DS on my schedule. I got off at 12:30 am. For me, getting off at 12:30 am wasn't any different than those who got off at 5 pm. I couldn't go home and go to sleep. Sometimes a group of us would go out to eat. I was thrilled when a grocery store close by started staying open 24 hours. I would go grocery shopping at 2 am and was usually the only one in the store except the stockers. My goal was to go to bed by 5 am. My bedroom would get really bright so I had to be asleep before the sun came up. DS usually went to sleep by about 3 am. He took his "afternoon" nap from about 10:30 pm to about midnight. I kept the hours all the time, including weekends. I usually got up around 11 am or noon. It worked for us at that time in our lives. If 2Peas had existed though, y'all would have been talking about me since I had my toddler out so late instead of home in his bed. He was never fussy when we went out in the middle of the night because he was on my schedule. If he had an off day and was fussy, we went home.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 6:48:51 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2014 20:41:06 GMT
I go to bed after my shift. My latest time I work to is 1am. I work at home in my pjs and take my Benadryl about thirty minutes before my shift ends and then head to bed and read for a little bit. I wake up at about 9-10am.
|
|
|
Post by not2peased on Aug 7, 2014 20:42:27 GMT
I worked 12 hour nights for several years, I would come home in the morning-eat something, and then go to bed-I was never usually home for more than an hour before I went to bed. I usually slept until 2pm or so.
sometimes I would try to nap a little right before work but that rarely worked for me
|
|
|
Post by disneypal on Aug 7, 2014 20:52:13 GMT
I haven't worked an overnight shift but I think if I did, I would come home and stay awake for a while and then calculate what time I needed to go to bed to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
For instance, if my shift was 7 pm until 3 am. I would come home have breakfast/supper, stay awake a bit and go to bed around 10:30 am and set my alarm to get up about 5:30 pm, allowing enough time for a shower and travel time to get to work.
|
|
kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,583
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
|
Post by kate on Aug 7, 2014 20:53:17 GMT
I worked 11p-7a when I was in my 20's. I tried to sleep when I came home, but I was not very successful. I never tried sleeping right before work, because... well, I was in my 20's and had a social life.
|
|
|
Post by beachhappy22 on Aug 7, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
Nights can be tough especially since at some point in your week you do join the regular day time hours when you are off. I have tried all variations of sleeping and change up my sleep to fit my kid's schedule. Sometimes there is an 11 am practice so crashing for a few hours helps instead of trying to stay up and go. I also use black out shades or an eye mask since the first sign of light I seem to want to wake up, rested or not. I do have a white noise machine that I use on occasion but I find the fan works better for me. I find that I am constantly tired when I work nights. I just don't seem to get enough rest no matter what routine I try.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Aug 7, 2014 21:01:49 GMT
DH works 630-7. He comes home from work, rakes the kids to school and is usually in bed by 8:00. His first alarm goes off at 4:15. He leaves for work about 5:30.
He doesn't have to do a lot as I do it all during my off time (which can be a point of contention at times). If he will be off more than the one day, he will sleep until 4:30, get up, and then be back in bed by around 10 so he can get up during the day the next day
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Aug 7, 2014 21:02:02 GMT
when I worked overnights (11p-7a)- I came home, had breakfast and got Simon off to school and then went to bed and slept until he was coming home from school and then was up and awake for homework/dinner/bedtime and then went to work.
When I worked an odd shift (went in between 2am and 4am), I was getting home too late to get much sleep before school let out so I would just take a quick nap (if possible) and then sleep after dinner until time for work.
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Aug 7, 2014 21:11:39 GMT
DH worked two different night shifts. One was midnight to 5 pm, 7 days a week. We were in Seoul, active duty military, North Korea had sunk a South Korean ship and they were down a man due to the summer rotation cycle. He would come home, and for an hour until dinner was ready, then go to bed with the kids at 8 pm. He pretty much slept and worked. He was a mess and had high blood pressure for the first (and only time) in his life.
The second time was better. We were back in the states and DH worked 7 pm to 7 am. He slept when the kids were in school, then woke up when they came home. If they had a school event, he could go. It actually worked pretty well for us, except I was pretty much homebound once the kids were in bed. We were new in town and I didn't know anyone well enough to watch the kids.
I would encourage you to sleep when it's convenient and keeps you the most on schedule with family and/or friends. I would also look for a block of sleep, as we need that REM sleep. That's why DH had high blood pressure--because of the lack of REM sleep.
|
|
anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
|
Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 7, 2014 21:33:38 GMT
When I used to do nights I would sleep as soon as I got home, for 7 or 8 hours, then potter about when I got up.
|
|
|
Post by Crazyhare on Aug 7, 2014 21:36:40 GMT
DH works nights 9pm - 7am. He comes home helps me get our little girl showered and he feeds her breakfast. He tries to be in bed by 8 - 8:30.
Then he gets up when we come home a little after 5. That way he can eat dinner with us. And he play with her before he leaves for work.
We have a room with blackout curtains. He uses a box fan to drowned out the outside noises.
|
|
blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,006
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
|
Post by blue tulip on Aug 7, 2014 21:41:17 GMT
my husband works thirds. he comes home around 7 and is usually in bed by 8 during the summer, or 8:30 after the kids get on the bus during school year. then up around 4 after kids get home from school and I get home from work. that way our waking hours are spent together as a family. when I worked third shift I did the same.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Aug 7, 2014 21:48:57 GMT
I wanted to mention that DH must have a stomach of steel or something because right as he gets up, he eats whatever I have made for dinner. 8 ve offered to try and make various breakfasty type foods, but he doesn't want me to.
I can barely eat in the morning and typically have a shake or smoothy. There is no way I could eat a pork chop or burrito or somethibg
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 7, 2014 23:22:41 GMT
My observations with a dh that works nights He leaves for work at 9:30 pm. He gets home at 6:50 am. He wakes me up, has a cup of coffee, feeds the dogs and then sits down to unwind for a bit (10-20 minutes). Then he goes to bed and sleeps until 1:00 - 2:00. Then he gets up and starts his day. He has two days off in a row so that is nice. But that means he doesn't like getting his full sleep on that first day off (Thursday). So on Thursdays he comes home, does his usual stuff and then sits in his recliner to watch his show. He always falls asleep and naps for 2-3 hours. Then he gets up and does his stuff. Thursdays are his grumpy day since he doesn't want to sleep on his day off but he needs to. When it's my turn in the barrel for night shift, this is my exact routine. I almost always have a grumpy day, as well! I'm glad the grumpy day is more the schedule than us Today is his grumpy day so I try to take him to lunch on Thursdays. That seems to be helping
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 7, 2014 23:25:13 GMT
I wanted to mention that DH must have a stomach of steel or something because right as he gets up, he eats whatever I have made for dinner. 8 ve offered to try and make various breakfasty type foods, but he doesn't want me to. I can barely eat in the morning and typically have a shake or smoothy. There is no way I could eat a pork chop or burrito or somethibg We struggle with our meals Dh wants breakfast when we want dinner. We try to take him to a 24 hr breakfast place for dinner every couple of weeks I always feel funny when people talk about how much they dislike iHop. We go there fairly often just because of our schedules and dh can get his correct meal at the correct time for him!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 6:48:51 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2014 23:33:51 GMT
When I worked 6 pm to 2 am I prefered using 6 pm more like a 6 am. I wasn't able to go right to bed when I got home so 2 am was more like the middle of the afternoon. Then I'd go to bed, sleep, wake up to get ready for work. Since I was living alone it worked ok for me. Had a little trouble with friends calling me around noon to see if I wanted to go shopping or whatever.
Even on days off I kept the same basic schedule so I didn't experience the grumpy day. And I can eat any food at just about any time so meals weren't a problem.
|
|
|
Post by cropaholicnora on Aug 8, 2014 1:29:46 GMT
Thank you all for your stories. I really appreciate seeing how things work for other people. Lucky for me, I'm not much of a breakfast person so I'll be good feeding my DS dinner at my breakfast. The thing I worry most about is flip-flopping my schedule around on my off days. I'm really hoping I can stick to the overnight schedule and just do my studying when I'd normally be sleeping.
|
|
|
Post by mcscrapper on Aug 8, 2014 3:15:18 GMT
When I worked night shift 7p7a, I would generally come home and eat something and unwind - just like I do on a day shift. I would shower off and try to relax some with a little TV or computer time. I'd try to be in bed by 10am which wasn't always easy. I would get up by 4 usually and eat and have some coffee and putter around for an hour until I had to get ready to go back. I live 1.2 miles from work so it was easy for me to be home by 0715 on most days.
I tried to keep my night shift just like if I were working a day shift. I did find that I had to keep all the lights off and shades drawn so my body would start thinking it was getting dark. I also had to use a fan or other white noise making machine on during the summer months to help drown out the neighborhood noises.
When I had non-work days before my work days, I would have to stay up as late as I could and get up early that day and stay busy all day then take a nap before going in. Those days sucked because that was a whole day wasted.
Night shift is NOT for sissies!
meredith
|
|
moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,255
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
|
Post by moodyblue on Aug 8, 2014 4:01:50 GMT
My brother-in-law works third shift and he sticks to the same schedule for sleeping all the time. This is what works best for them, and especially so as he gets older. It's just easier to go to bed and get up at the same time, even on his days off. He is up for a while when he gets home, just as any of us are after we get home from work. And he gets up to go to work just like anyone else, but he is going to work very late in the evening.
It was really hard for him when he had to have his appendix out a few months ago. He had to stay in the hospital a few days because his appendix burst and it was difficult for him to sleep during the day, as he normally does, with all the noise and activity in a hospital. He was really exhausted when he got home and slept for over twelve hours then.
|
|
|
Post by tania7424 on Aug 8, 2014 4:06:47 GMT
My sister works 2 days (7am-7pm), 24 hr turnaround, then 2 nights (7pm-7am). So the second night she is off at 7pm, she stays up as late as possible, takes a nap if she needs to in the afternoon and gets up and gets ready for work like she would if she working at 7am. Then comes home from work, has something to eat, hangs out for awhile, probably takes a Benadryl with a wine chaser and sleeps as long as possible. Gets up and gets ready for work. Then she has 4 full days off, and when she comes home after the last night shift, she takes a nap, usually around 3 hours, gets up and gets herself back on track. She's been working in the ER for almost 10 years doing this.
|
|
|
Post by penny on Aug 8, 2014 4:21:46 GMT
I work 14 hour nights, 4pm to 6am, either two in a row or three in a row... By the time I get home in the morning it's 7am, I have something small to eat so I won't wake up because I get hungry, and sleep until 1pm if I can... My wake up/shower/dress/get ready to go routine takes about an hour, and the commute is about 1 to 1-1/2 hours on those days (horrid traffic), so I leave by 230pm... Getting up at 1pm gives me enough time to leave a bit early in case weather/traffic is extra bad, or to get gas/etc if I need it...
After my last night I run errands on my way home - bank, groceries, Home Depot for whatever fix-it's are planned for days off, etc... I end up completely exhausted and sleep so soundly... I'm usually done errands and putting stuff (groceries, chopping veg), away by noon, have the most wonderful sleep until 7pmish, then (because I've done my errands), I don't feel bad at all about spending the evening in my pjs and watching a movie or scrapping... I end up being sleepy enough to head back to bed around midnight or 1am, and then I'm back to waking up around 6 or 7 am...
Day shifts are only ten hours so I can't just flip my routine, but when I worked 12s, that's what I did... The math is so much easier that way, but having a couple extra hours at the end of a day shift is really great...
|
|
|
Post by jcm28 on Aug 8, 2014 12:54:56 GMT
I have been working straight nights (7P-7A) for 27 years. Here's my routine. I usually stack my days, three in a row.
The day I am to start my three nights, I try to take a two hour nap. Leave for work at 5:45. I usually get back home around 7:30 a.m. I take a quick shower to help watch off the crud and let the hot water relax my neck and shoulders which are always tight. My wonderful dh makes me breakfast and I read the paper while I eat. Then I go to bed around 8 a.m. I *usually* sleep untol 3 or so, sometimes 4, if I'm lucky. Dh cooks on the nights I'm working, so I get up to a completed meal.
And so it goes for the next two nights. On the morning of my last shift, the morning routine is the same but I get up earlier, around 1-2. I usually can sleep,that night because I am exhausted ( I'm no spring chicken) but I usually wake up at 4 or 5 a.m. I just get up and quietly do things around the house or in my scrap room.
One thing I would highly recommend is to black out your windows. My dh went to lowes many years ago and bought some sheets of those foam sheets you put on the outside of a house for insulation. I covered them with fabric and they are cut to fit exactly into our windows. My room is as dark as night.
The only time I have real trouble sleeping is on Thursday, when the neighbors yard guy comes.
it's certainly not for everyone but I do like the differential!
Janet
|
|
tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
|
Post by tincin on Aug 8, 2014 14:36:35 GMT
Unless I have the weekend off I come home and get ready for bed, eat some breakfast and hit the hay. If I have the weekend off I usually cut my sleep short on Friday (my week starts Sun. night) and go to bed about 3am Saturday morning so I get some daylight hours to do things with my BF. I try to stay on a somewhat regular schedule because I get too tired if I try to sleep at night. As it is I pay on Mondays for cutting my sleep short on Friday but if I sleep till 4:30pm like I typically do, I am not ready to go to bed until 8ish the next morning. If I only have 1 day off I stay on my regular routine. I also run a fan for white noise because my inconsiderate neighbors like to mow their lawns at ungodly hours like 11am. What are they thinking? I am trying to sleep her.
|
|