Working shifts - advice please

2qk4u

Ive had three very good interviews and am 99.9% sure I will be offered the job soon, its a supervisory roll and involves working shifts, 4 days on 2 days off 4 nights on 2 nights off and back to days..
Im not a great sleeper and Im concerned about sleeping during the day, I have black out blinds but the light still gets in around the edges and Im quite sensitive to noise.
Does anyone who works night shifts have any advice for me ?
Is it just a case of getting an eye mask and ear buds and hope for the best ?
How long does it take to get used to constantly changing from days to nights or do you ever get used to it ?

connundrum

I'd take the job, but would be asking if there's no way of being the permanent day or night Supervisor on an ongoing basis.

I've a staff of about 100 guys who work both day and night and there is no way I'd have them on that shift pattern you've described - but thats just me. The night guys work nights (and possibly evenings at a push) and the day guys work days (and possibly evenings on occasion).

The body will adjust to the day/night turn around, but I would strongly suggest that you start taking multivitamins and watching your diet in order to keep your health up.

2qk4u

connundrum wrote: »

I'd take the job, but would be asking if there's no way of being the permanent day or night Supervisor on an ongoing basis.

I've a staff of about 100 guys who work both day and night and there is no way I'd have them on that shift pattern you've described - but thats just me. The night guys work nights (and possibly evenings at a push) and the day guys work days (and possibly evenings on occasion).

The body will adjust to the day/night turn around, but I would strongly suggest that you start taking multivitamins and watching your diet in order to keep your health up.

Thanks, I did consider the option of suggesting one shift or the other but decided I should wait until I show them what Im made of. It will also give me a chance to talk to other supervisors and maybe one might like the same option which would make it easier to convince the employer.
I would expect my body clock to go into shock but hopefully Ill get through it.

connundrum

2qk4u wrote: »

Thanks, I did consider the option of suggesting one shift or the other but decided I should wait until I show them what Im made of. It will also give me a chance to talk to other supervisors and maybe one might like the same option which would make it easier to convince the employer.
I would expect my body clock to go into shock but hopefully Ill get through it.

It's usually the first 4-6 weeks when you're susceptible to illness as your body will go into a bit of a shock. A few of my staff have the amazing talent of being able to 'bank' sleep i.e. sleep for 14 hours on a Monday, and then survive on 4-5 hours sleep per day/night for the rest of the week.

ElleEm

I spent five years doing days and nights and my body never got used to it. My immune system really had to fight! It suits some people and not others.

Take multivitamins, try to eat right, rest LOADS when you come off your nights and if you know your neighbours, mention that you'll be working nights so sleeping in the day. I tried dropping this hint many times to my neighbours over the years but they still allowed their child to scream in the garden for no reason, or they'd vacuum their car an hour after they saw me stumble in, etc. Sleep deprivation is not fun.

2qk4u

ElleEm wrote: »

I spent five years doing days and nights and my body never got used to it. My immune system really had to fight! It suits some people and not others.

Take multivitamins, try to eat right, rest LOADS when you come off your nights and if you know your neighbours, mention that you'll be working nights so sleeping in the day. I tried dropping this hint many times to my neighbours over the years but they still allowed their child to scream in the garden for no reason, or they'd vacuum their car an hour after they saw me stumble in, etc. Sleep deprivation is not fun.

Sounds like fun, cant wait... (not)

Anyway I got the job and start next week... hope this does not kill me.

bbam

ElleEm wrote: »

I spent five years doing days and nights and my body never got used to it. My immune system really had to fight! It suits some people and not others.

Take multivitamins, try to eat right, rest LOADS when you come off your nights and if you know your neighbours, mention that you'll be working nights so sleeping in the day. I tried dropping this hint many times to my neighbours over the years but they still allowed their child to scream in the garden for no reason, or they'd vacuum their car an hour after they saw me stumble in, etc. Sleep deprivation is not fun.

I'll see your five and raise it to twelve and a half years... I managed it for a long time but for the last 3 years it was nothing but torture... Three years after finishing I still have sleepless nights... I couldnt sleep more than 1-2 hours between nights and had constant health problems..

Black out blinds won't work.. Get a sheet of black fabric and one of those extendable poles for net curtains... This way youll get the black out right up to the window and keep out 99% of the light.. I found that a sea sounds cd playing in the room was good to block out other noise... Lawnmowers are the problem... nothing stops that damn sound!

fasttalkerchat

2qk4u wrote: »

Sounds like fun, cant wait... (not)

Anyway I got the job and start next week... hope this does not kill me.

TBH with you if you don't feel great after a week or 2 doing it it probably is having an effect on your health. Sticking it out for a year or 2 won't kill you but take into account that you are much more likely to damage your back when you don't have enough sleep.

copacetic

Agree with some of the above, you can get used to one or the other but not alternating them week on and off.

2qk4u

Thanks for the comments guys, Im going to talk to the other guys doing the same job that I will be doing, there are five or six of them and Ive heard they are there a long time, one guy is doing the job fifteen years. Maybe one of them will want to do days only or nights only..
Its a mobile job so lots of driving and on site inspections, long hours too so I hope that will help with the sleep.
Im already on the supplements, have to get some earplugs over the weekend.

the_syco

2qk4u wrote: »

Im already on the supplements, have to get some earplugs over the weekend.

Pop into the chemists, and explain your situation, and ask for something to help you nod off. They wouldn't be sleeping pills, but more like stuff to help you fall asleep, as opposed to making you fall asleep. Best of luck.

Wishbone Ash

I did mixed day and night shifts for 15 years and became accustomed to it. I wouldn't worry about light or blinds as that doesn't really affect sleep but noise does. I used ear plugs when necessary. Working nights can have it's advantages especially if there is an night allowance - I got 25% extra.

fasttalkerchat

Stay away from sleeping pills! I tried them a few times but they made me drowsy. I was slow as hell in work and driving there was dangerous (and probably illegal)

F1ngers

2qk4u wrote: »

4 days on 2 days off 4 nights on 2 nights off and back to days..

That shift pattern sounds a bit rough, especially going from nights to days with a two day turnaround - For example, you will finish work at 7am* on a monday morning and are then due back in work at 7am* on wednesday.

My advice for when you finish your night shift and are getting ready to get back onto dayshift mode, get up as early as you can - do something with your day - don't laze/doze in the house.

* Could be 8am or whatever your hours are.

2qk4u

I was thinking the same about something to help me fall asleep, Ill try one of the nature shops.
I will be working 12 hour shifts with a 45 minute drive either side of it. Hopefully mother nature will put me asleep and keep me asleep. Im more concerned about disturbed sleep.

fasttalkerchat

2qk4u wrote: »

I was thinking the same about something to help me fall asleep, Ill try one of the nature shops.
I will be working 12 hour shifts with a 45 minute drive either side of it. Hopefully mother nature will put me asleep and keep me asleep. Im more concerned about disturbed sleep.

Years ago my mate was doing early and late shifts in the same week. After about 60 hours that week his mum looked in on him on saturday night. He was sleep-talking to her about "dragons coming on tuesday" Serious disturbed sleep!

2qk4u

Im almost four weeks into the job now and Im doing fine, it has not been as hard as I thought it would be.
I went to boots and bought ear plugs and bought a nice soft eye mask on ebay to help block out the light, now Im sleeping during the day with no problems.
Switching from day to night and back again is not as bad as I thought it would be either. I had two nights last week where I was drained but that is expected.
I cant believe the difference ear plugs and an eye mask make..