Can an early shift in work mentally and physically drain a person?

HeidiHeidi · 28-02-2019 11:33AM

I've done shift work more or less all my life (mixed shifts, though) - and as I get older, I find the early shifts increasingly hard to cope with. I used to be completely allergic to nights, but now it's the early shifts I dread.

I start at 7, and the alarm goes off at 6.10am and I might get up at 6.20 (although I'm trying to get out of the habit of the snooze button, with not much success so far) - but I do live about an 8-minute drive from work, so basically no commuting time.

I have to have a shower in the morning, I don't feel like I've woken up unless I do! But I can delay food till later (not ideal, but I can't eat that early or that soon after waking up), have to get a coffee in though.

Most days I get home at 4 or 5 and have to have a little nap! But I'm a huge sleeper, left to my own devices I'd say I'd easily sleep 10 hours a night no problem.

But to answer your OP question - yes, I find early shifts harder and harder, and I'm not getting up anywhere near as early as you.

Could you have breakfast and coffee at work? If you're not showering in the morning, it should be possible to have a set, drilled routine of get up, dressed and out the door in 15 minutes or less (possibly still half-asleep!). I don't know what your commute time is, but you're inflicting an awfully early wake-up time on yourself unnecessarily, IMO.

lainey_d_123 · 28-02-2019 11:35AM

I will never understand why people who already start work early insist on getting up at some ridiculous time and faffing around for an hour and a half. When I worked in a hotel, I used to start at 7am and I got up as late as humanly possible. Shower the night before, clothes all ready, make-up laid out ready, breakfast packed in a bag. Get up, put kettle on, get dressed while kettle is boiling, instant coffee made in flask, brush teeth, brush hair, put on some make-up and go. Have breakfast either on the bus on the way to work or after arriving at work. Why would you give up an hour or more of sleep when you're already waking up really early?

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 11:36AM

aloneforever99 wrote: »

Why are you so tired though? What time are you normally going to bed? You need 7-8 hours sleep, so that means getting to bed by about 10 - are you staying up later than this?

How's your lifestyle otherwise - do you drink enough water, how's your diet, do you exercise? When you do go to sleep, is it good quality sleep or are you tossing and turning?

Im in bed around 8. Not by choice either. I'm crawling up the stairs because I'm tired, put something on Netflix or have a chat with the partner. Then I'm turning over and asleep by 9 because my eyes are failing me. I drink at least 2 litres a day. I have a water bottle to keep track so I'm good with water. I think my diet is fairly good. Healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Might snack on a bar for "desert" after dinner but nothing major. I got to the gym twice a week which I think needs to be upgraded to more than that now, seeing as it could help me. My sleeping is okay. I always wake up at least once a night, mainly to check the time then fall back to sleep again but I'm not wide awake. I don't toss and turn. I fall asleep pretty quickly.

HeidiHeidi · 28-02-2019 11:36AM

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

I will never understand why people who already start work early insist on getting up at some ridiculous time and faffing around for an hour and a half. When I worked in a hotel, I used to start at 7am and I got up as late as humanly possible. Shower the night before, clothes all ready, make-up laid out ready, breakfast packed in a bag. Get up, put kettle on, get dressed while kettle is boiling, instant coffee made in flask, brush teeth, brush hair, put on some make-up and go. Have breakfast either on the bus on the way to work or after arriving at work. Why would you give up an hour or more of sleep when you're already waking up really early?

This, all day long!!!

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 11:38AM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

It sounds like paranoia about being late might be interrupting your sleep. Even when you do nod off you mightn't be reaching the levels of sleep needed to re energise the brain due to worry. Maybe try and address the paranoia and you'll sleep better.

That's exactly what it is. I'm almost always awake before my alarm, check it, go back to sleep then alarm goes off.

Wildsurfer · 28-02-2019 11:40AM

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

I will never understand why people who already start work early insist on getting up at some ridiculous time and faffing around for an hour and a half. When I worked in a hotel, I used to start at 7am and I got up as late as humanly possible. Shower the night before, clothes all ready, make-up laid out ready, breakfast packed in a bag. Get up, put kettle on, get dressed while kettle is boiling, instant coffee made in flask, brush teeth, brush hair, put on some make-up and go. Have breakfast either on the bus on the way to work or after arriving at work. Why would you give up an hour or more of sleep when you're already waking up really early?

You keep a kettle in your bedroom?

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 11:41AM

IAMAMORON wrote: »

It sounds to me like you are suffering from fatigue and that you are blaming your current routine.

The fact is that you are a human being and not a robot. It is natural to feel deflated at this time if the year, particularly with the dark mornings etc. Easy to get anyone down.

Does your shift change ? Is there scope within your workplace to change your hours? Look into this for sure.

If you are up early get to bed early. Getting proper rest and eating well are really important for your wellbeing , especially during the winter months. You don't need to turn into a monk or anything, but be good to yourself during your time off.

Constantly tired. Day in and day out. I take Borroca (or aldis equivalent!) every morning which helps for about an hour then crash and burn before the first break in the morning. By then I have green tea and fruits to help energise again. I'm not a big coffee drinker.

sbsquarepants · 28-02-2019 11:41AM

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

My sleeping is okay. I always wake up at least once a night, mainly to check the time then fall back to sleep again but I'm not wide awake. I don't toss and turn. I fall asleep pretty quickly.

Your pretty much getting the average amount of sleep 8 hours give or take. If you want more hours in the evening, you'll need to take them from the morning........or find a quite spot in work for an hour or two;)

lainey_d_123 · 28-02-2019 11:42AM

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

Im in bed around 8. Not by choice either. I'm crawling up the stairs because I'm tired, put something on Netflix or have a chat with the partner. Then I'm turning over and asleep by 9 because my eyes are failing me. I drink at least 2 litres a day. I have a water bottle to keep track so I'm good with water. I think my diet is fairly good. Healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Might snack on a bar for "desert" after dinner but nothing major. I got to the gym twice a week which I think needs to be upgraded to more than that now, seeing as it could help me. My sleeping is okay. I always wake up at least once a night, mainly to check the time then fall back to sleep again but I'm not wide awake. I don't toss and turn. I fall asleep pretty quickly.

Maybe get your vitamin D checked and general blood tests, but getting up at 5am when you don't need to is pure madness. I'd consider 6am the earliest 'normal' waking up time that isn't going to screw with your body clock.

lainey_d_123 · 28-02-2019 11:43AM

Wildsurfer wrote: »

You keep a kettle in your bedroom?

No, it was in the kitchen. I put it on right after getting up, went and got dressed and then poured out the water into my flask. Not that confusing tbh.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 11:43AM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Your pretty much getting the average amount of sleep 8 hours give or take. If you want more hours in the evening, you'll need to take them from the morning........or find a quite spot in work for an hour or two;)

Just lie on the floor and fall asleep. No one will ask questions. They are just tired so they will say

nothing · 28-02-2019 11:47AM

I've found that being tired has a negative impact on my mood, anxiety and ability to cope. So while the early shift in and of itself may not be the culprit, your routine could be. Sounds like you're planning to follow advice on getting up a bit later, and don't be afraid to have a short nap when you come home from work to refresh yourself.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 11:51AM

nothing wrote: »

I've found that being tired has a negative impact on my mood, anxiety and ability to cope. So while the early shift in and of itself may not be the culprit, your routine could be. Sounds like you're planning to follow advice on getting up a bit later, and don't be afraid to have a short nap when you come home from work to refresh yourself.

I do love a good nap in fairness. Im going to set my alarm for about half 5, quarter to 6 in the morning and see how I get on. I'm still leaving myself time to get ready and have something to eat and get to work. Looking at the replies, I'm thinking I was being silly in thinking I was doing myself a favour when in reality I was just making myself worst. I can't cope with the smallest of task and my moods, don't get me started on that.

_Brian · 28-02-2019 11:52AM

My day shifts used to be 7am-7::20pm
Had to be up at 5, out of house for 5:20 and long commute to work. Home 8:30, bed by 10.

It takes its toll, get as much fresh air as you can, sunlight too when it’s there. That makes a huge difference.

Eat well avoiding getting into too much coffee.

HeidiHeidi · 28-02-2019 11:57AM

OP, how long is your commute to work? (apologies if you've already said!)

If you're going to set your alarm for later in the morning, make sure you have your routine all worked out and prepared the night before (at least until it becomes blind muscle memory habit, which it is in my case at this stage). If necessary, write the steps down! If you're rigorous about it, you'll eventually be able to get yourself out the door fully suited and booted without even realising it.

Dial Hard · 28-02-2019 12:00PM

I wouldn't consider a 7am start stupendously early, I did 7-4 as my standard hours for years. As others have said, you're getting up far too early. Shave your morning routine down to the bare minimum. "Pottering" at that hour is beyond silly. Is there an option to have breakfast when you get to work, or perhaps even on a morning break? I'm not really a breakfast eater anyway but there is no way in hell I could eat at that hour of the morning. And lastly, stop checking the time when you wake up during the night, every sleep expert I've ever read agrees that it's a bad idea. Your alarm is set, so just trust that it will go off at the appointed time. Checking the time during the night automatically sets your brain into "I only have X hours of sleep left" panic mode.

ImARebel · 28-02-2019 12:01PM

try getting one of those lights that wake you up naturally. it helps your body adjust to the whole getting up in a gradual gentle way. My sister uses one as she has to get up at the same time and highly recommends one

the only difference between you and her -> is she's got an hour's drive to get to work for 7!

You're getting up crazy early.considering her commute to get to work at the same time

The Tetrarch · 28-02-2019 12:03PM

I did that for my last 15 years in work before I retired.
Alarm at 06:00, lie in, leave house at 06:45, drive 13 miles from south Dublin to north Dublin through the city, swipe in before 07:30, half hour for lunch, swipe out at 15:30, drive 13 miles home.
In the evening play poker in a Dublin club from 21:00 to 04:00, drive 4 miles home, get into bed, wake up almost immediately at 06:00, and repeat.
I once played poker to 03:30 or 04:00 three nights in a row and got up at 06:00 when the alarm went off. I won one of those poker tournaments, and came 4th in the other two.
Darn That Alarm was a horse name I liked.

Fiftyfilthy · 28-02-2019 12:03PM

I’m up every morning mon to fri at 6am and not home until 8pm

Some nights can be asleep on the couch by 10:30 but in general never feel too tired and able to get up in the mornings

Think diet, exercise, etc also plays a big part

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 12:04PM

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

OP, how long is your commute to work? (apologies if you've already said!)

If you're going to set your alarm for later in the morning, make sure you have your routine all worked out and prepared the night before (at least until it becomes blind muscle memory habit, which it is in my case at this stage). If necessary, write the steps down! If you're rigorous about it, you'll eventually be able to get yourself out the door fully suited and booted without even realising it.

As embarrassing as it sounds, it takes me 10 mins to get to work. I don't live that far when driving. M50 is empty and yet I still leave early. Its actually embarrassing how long it takes and I still leave early

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 12:07PM

Sorollory wrote: »

What do you mean you can't cope with a task? It sounds like there is a deeper issue which you should try to address.

Oh no not in a bad way. I can function and I can do my job. Just when I get home all ideas of the house work leaves. Obviously I clean but the big clean is the weekends when I have more energy. Sorry, that was dramatic. Task in work isn't hard but because I'm tired it just takes longer but it doesn't affect me. I shouldn't of said that

lainey_d_123 · 28-02-2019 12:07PM

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

As embarrassing as it sounds, it takes me 10 mins to get to work. I don't live that far when driving. M50 is empty and yet I still leave early. Its actually embarrassing how long it takes and I still leave early

You're being awful hard on yourself here in all your posts. There's nothing wrong with getting up early if you want to, but if you get tired, then just get up a bit later. Why are you beating yourself up?

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 12:08PM

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

You're being awful hard on yourself here in all your posts. There's nothing wrong with getting up early if you want to, but if you get tired, then just get up a bit later. Why are you beating yourself up?

What I taught was a huge problem actually turned out to be a small simple change. Thank you for the post

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 12:10PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

I wouldn't consider a 7am start stupendously early, I did 7-4 as my standard hours for years. As others have said, you're getting up far too early. Shave your morning routine down to the bare minimum. "Pottering" at that hour is beyond silly. Is there an option to have breakfast when you get to work, or perhaps even on a morning break? I'm not really a breakfast eater anyway but there is no way in hell I could eat at that hour of the morning. And lastly, stop checking the time when you wake up during the night, every sleep expert I've ever read agrees that it's a bad idea. Your alarm is set, so just trust that it will go off at the appointed time. Checking the time during the night automatically sets your brain into "I only have X hours of sleep left" panic mode.

That's exactly what happens. I'm waking up and counting down the minutes I have left to wake up so I'm "catching up" on how much sleep I have left. Im thinking that might be the cause, along with the early rise

HeidiHeidi · 28-02-2019 12:13PM

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

You're being awful hard on yourself here in all your posts. There's nothing wrong with getting up early if you want to, but if you get tired, then just get up a bit later. Why are you beating yourself up?

Agree with this.

If I have do something non-routine with an early start, then I like to be up that bit earlier and get myself prepared mentally and make sure I have everything right .

But definitely for the routine day-to-day job, it's possible to get yourself up, ready and out on automatic pilot in a very short time - it's all about rigorous routine.

Sleep is my favourite activity in the whole world, and I begrudge every minute of it I have to sacrifice to work!

If you only have a 10 minute journey to work, I reckon you could easily be setting your alarm for 6am (or even 6.15) and still get in to work before 7.

inforfun · 28-02-2019 12:20PM

Always said i would never accept a job or shift that means waking up before 6am and still stand with that.
i also need the same starting and finish times for ... ever.
Not going to happen that i work 6.30-4pm one week and 3pm - 11 pm the next week for example.

I need my sleep\awake rythm kept intact and it would take me at least 2 days to get used to either shift.

ImARebel · 28-02-2019 12:22PM

Also my sister took up going to the gym (spinning classes, trx that sort of thing all class based) and she feels 100% better than when she was doing the commute and then coming home to flake on the couch.

Activity will help, you'll need to adjust to it, but it will help in the long run

wakka12 · 28-02-2019 12:29PM

I also get up an hour before I need to leave. I think its nice having a slow leisurely breakfast and coffee in the morning

anyway my advice is that you exercise. I know everyone says this as a solution to every problem on earth and it can seem a bit trite but it is said for a reason , youll be so shocked and pleased by how much it uplifts your mood and your quality of sleep

Cryptopagan · 28-02-2019 12:37PM

ImARebel wrote: »

Also my sister took up going to the gym (spinning classes, trx that sort of thing all class based) and she feels 100% better than when she was doing the commute and then coming home to flake on the couch.

Activity will help, you'll need to adjust to it, but it will help in the long run

Why do people always suggest the gym? I find gyms really depressing places, and I can’t be alone. All those fluorescent lights, and the terrible music, and half the people there look like dickheads. And classes are that only worse.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r · 28-02-2019 12:38PM

Cryptopagan wrote: »

Why do people always suggest the gym? I find gyms really depressing places, and I can’t be alone. All those fluorescent lights, and the terrible music, and half the people there look like dickheads. And classes are that only worse.

I won't lie, it does make you feel much better. I should really take that advice. Especially on the weekends when I go, I always feel much better

Can an early shift in work mentally and physically drain a person?

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