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

t1h9mgqsxopj0r

I currently work Mon-Fri and my shift starts at 7am and finishes at 3:30pm. I set my alarm for 5am every morning so it gives me time to wake up, get washed and dressed and have my breakfast. I make my lunch the night before so I'm not rushing around in the morning trying to find something to make. I leave my house at around 20 past 6 then to make it to work. I get to work around 15 mins early to have a cup of tea before I start and wind down a little bit.

But I find by 7pm-8pm, I am literally ready for bed. I've tried to busy myself after work and give myself things to do so I can go to bed at a reasonable hour instead of just passing out. As soon as I fall asleep, I awake again 3 hours later then fall asleep again, awake during the night, fall asleep and then my alarm goes off. As I write this, I see that my sleeping is starting to get affected and broken.

I try to see the positive side and tell myself that I get to leave work early and be home for 4pm and have the rest of the day/evening to myself but as the days and weeks go on, I feel my mood and energy is worsening and I generally don't want to do anything but sleep. I literally think about falling asleep when I'm in work. Every morning I take vitamin supplements and lately, my whole body has just been so run down that I can't even get rid of a cold that I've had for ages. It's not the cold that's running me down moreso the lack of energy. I go to the gym twice a week which is the weekend because its the only time I really have a big more energy to do things, hence the little lie on. My weekends are filled with business as I don't have much energy during the week to do anything. I much rather be busy on the weekend anyways but again, by 9pm of a Friday, Saturday and Sunday I'm more than likely passed out.

I'm finding as my alarm goes off, I'm pressing snooze until the last second and I before I know it, it's 5 past 6 and I've to rush around and get ready and run out the door. No food. Half washed. Hair thrown up and just over all, not looking like I attempted to get myself ready at all. I get into work looking and feeling like rubbish, do my shift, go home and have dinner and back to bed again. I've tried to tell myself to go to the gym straight after work but physically and mentally I'm pushing myself to exhaustion.

I don't want to interact with anyone. I can feel myself not wanting to speak or not have anything to talk about because my brain is just to tired to function. My job itself isn't hard and I'm not slacking but my interest is gone and I don't want to do anything else..... But sleep.

Is it possible for an early shift (or late shift) to make depression and anxiety appear? I suffer with anxiety and I've managed to be able to control it for the first time in years but I feel like it's taking over again and I'm going backwards in myself and losing the will and want to do anything.

I'm lucky that I'm in a job that I can tell them that the early shift doesn't suit me so speaking to them about it isn't an issue at all.

I'm just more curious as to whether an early working shift can affect someone mentally and physically?

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RacoonQueen

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

That's the thing. I've set my alarm for half 5 before and I ended up sleeping in and being late. I know it's extremely early to wake up. I roll out of the bed around 25 past 5 after my alarm goes off so Im not immediately out of the bed as soon as the alarm goes off but still

Why would doing this shift be any different to someone who starts at 9 on your mental and physical health? You probably just need to go to be earlier.

wakka12 wrote: »

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

Or as above, exercising. If I'm in full training I'm up at 5:30 in a swimming pool for 6, in work for 7:30 and training again that evening after work. In bed then for 10/10:30 doing that.
God I'd hate to be in later and stuck in the office till 6/7 pm every evening. Can't think of many things worse.

iamwhoiam

inforfun wrote: »

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.

Aren't you lucky to be able to pick and choose . Not everyone is . Gardai , nurses , firefighters etc etc all do alternative shifts . I did for years and lived to tell the tale !
6am-2pm
2pm -10pm
10pm -6am

GreeBo

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

I'm just woundering if it's a case of my shift having a problem with mental and physical health or I'm just being an ejit getting up to early and causing it myself. Seems like the latter. I wouldn't exactly say poor morning routine haha. I think I just get up to early thinking I'm doing myself a favour. Not in a slightest at all

I think it is a poor morning routine if you get up so early to facilitate pottering around at home and get into work early enough to sit and do nothing for 15 minutes all in a thread complaining about tiredness...

Its simple, if you need to get up earlier you need to get to bed earlier.

orourkeda1977

All these lazy f*ckers having their lie ins.

Lazy b*****ds

LouD2016

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

I currently work Mon-Fri and my shift starts at 7am and finishes at 3:30pm. I set my alarm for 5am every morning so it gives me time to wake up, get washed and dressed and have my breakfast. I make my lunch the night before so I'm not rushing around in the morning trying to find something to make. I leave my house at around 20 past 6 then to make it to work. I get to work around 15 mins early to have a cup of tea before I start and wind down a little bit.

But I find by 7pm-8pm, I am literally ready for bed. I've tried to busy myself after work and give myself things to do so I can go to bed at a reasonable hour instead of just passing out. As soon as I fall asleep, I awake again 3 hours later then fall asleep again, awake during the night, fall asleep and then my alarm goes off. As I write this, I see that my sleeping is starting to get affected and broken.

I try to see the positive side and tell myself that I get to leave work early and be home for 4pm and have the rest of the day/evening to myself but as the days and weeks go on, I feel my mood and energy is worsening and I generally don't want to do anything but sleep. I literally think about falling asleep when I'm in work. Every morning I take vitamin supplements and lately, my whole body has just been so run down that I can't even get rid of a cold that I've had for ages. It's not the cold that's running me down moreso the lack of energy. I go to the gym twice a week which is the weekend because its the only time I really have a big more energy to do things, hence the little lie on. My weekends are filled with business as I don't have much energy during the week to do anything. I much rather be busy on the weekend anyways but again, by 9pm of a Friday, Saturday and Sunday I'm more than likely passed out.

I'm finding as my alarm goes off, I'm pressing snooze until the last second and I before I know it, it's 5 past 6 and I've to rush around and get ready and run out the door. No food. Half washed. Hair thrown up and just over all, not looking like I attempted to get myself ready at all. I get into work looking and feeling like rubbish, do my shift, go home and have dinner and back to bed again. I've tried to tell myself to go to the gym straight after work but physically and mentally I'm pushing myself to exhaustion.

I don't want to interact with anyone. I can feel myself not wanting to speak or not have anything to talk about because my brain is just to tired to function. My job itself isn't hard and I'm not slacking but my interest is gone and I don't want to do anything else..... But sleep.

Is it possible for an early shift (or late shift) to make depression and anxiety appear? I suffer with anxiety and I've managed to be able to control it for the first time in years but I feel like it's taking over again and I'm going backwards in myself and losing the will and want to do anything.

I'm lucky that I'm in a job that I can tell them that the early shift doesn't suit me so speaking to them about it isn't an issue at all.

I'm just more curious as to whether an early working shift can affect someone mentally and physically?

I think this is more important to address than how long it takes you to get ready in morning or whether to have a shower in morning or evening.

If you are feeling like this you need to talk to your GP - morning shifts are hard and its easy to get lost in the rat race and into a slump in the evenings but depression and anxiety would cause fatigue and the urge to just want to sleep all the time.

I would def suggest maybe taking time to think about how you are actually feeling and address it.

ImARebel

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 was just suggesting exercise and my sister chose classes in the gym and that's why i said it, for no reason other than she works the same shift as the OP

obviously if that's not their bag, they can walk , cycle, swim whatever

it was just a suggestion

.......

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.

People always suggest the gym because exercise is clinically proven to be beneficial for your mental and physical well being.

As for gyms being depressing places - I dont go there for fun, I go there to work out. I block out the music and the people with my own MP3 and if the fluorescent lights bother me when Im exercising I cover my eyes.

I go to the gym before work and by the time Ive had a good workout, shower and breakfast I feel really set up for the day. Improves my sleep too.

wakka12

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.

Well gym is just where most people prefer to exercise, because its climate controlled and safe and has equipment, and motivating to be around other people also exercising alongside you. I dont think anyone is saying the OP has to do their exercise in a gym necessarily, can be outside, team sports, whatever, just that youre doing exercise is the main thing! doesnt matter where you do it

ImARebel

i chose to work 8 to 4.30 my commute eats into the benefit of getting home early, I'm up at 6.30 but at least I'm home for 6, so it's not too bad I get to see the kids before they go into meltdown mode at 7

SusieBlue

On the days I don't go to the gym after work, I'm guaranteed to hit a wall around 7-8pm and start nodding off on the couch because I'm so tired.

On the days I do go to the gym, I'm barely home at that time, and about to start making dinner and having a shower.
By the time I've eaten and washed and gotten myself sorted for the next day, its usually around 9:30/10pm, which gives me just enough time to watch half an hour of netflix before I nod off again.

No matter how tired I am, I have significantly more energy in the evenings if I go to the gym or do something to fill my time. As nice as a relaxing night in front of the telly sounds when your exhausted, its literally the worst thing you can do.

You need to fill those few hours with activity, be it the gym, walking, literally anything. You'll sleep so much better for it.

[Deleted User]

If you get up at 5 then going to bed at 8-9 is quite reasonable.
As others said maybe take less time to get ready. I take about 30 mins or less and that's shower makeup dressing maybe messing around with my hair and very occasionally a cup of tea.
You do need to do something in the evenings though, a class or a walk or anything

Cryptopagan

ImARebel wrote: »

I was just suggesting exercise and my sister chose classes in the gym and that's why i said it, for no reason other than she works the same shift as the OP

obviously if that's not their bag, they can walk , cycle, swim whatever

it was just a suggestion

I didn’t mean to pick to on you, just people always talk as if gym is only way to get exercise.

OP, I don’t think there’s any harm in getting up early. I like to have time to myself in the morning before actually having to start working. Has to be balanced by getting enough sleep though.

Grayson

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 think I've found my soulmate.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r

GreeBo wrote: »

I think it is a poor morning routine if you get up so early to facilitate pottering around at home and get into work early enough to sit and do nothing for 15 minutes all in a thread complaining about tiredness...

Its simple, if you need to get up earlier you need to get to bed earlier.

I do go to bed early haha, little too early if you ask me. It was honestly more of a is my shift the problem or me. It's me. It wasnt until other boardies posted that I realised I was being too egar on having more "wind down time" when in reality I was tiring myself out by giving myself too much time. Writing down what was "wrong" made me see it clearly as we'll

Grayson

I actually downloaded an app to help with sleep. It's just telling you when you need to go. You can set a reminder for say 30 minutes beforehand. It helped a lot. There are people who swear by white noise apps and stuff like that. It doesn't really work for me, I just needed someone to tell me to go to bed.

I also have an exercise tracker that monitors my sleep. It's helpful but not as helpful as the app.

Filling your evening with some stuff may help tooi.

Personally I need about 15 minutes to get up in the morning. I shower the night before so in the morning i get dressed, have a coffee and leave.

However I get up 90 minutes before I have to go. I stick on some youtube video's, have an extra coffee. take time with breakfast and generally relax before I leave the house. It really helps me.

Everyone is different though so play around with different apps for sleep and routines in the morning.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r

LouD2016 wrote: »

I think this is more important to address than how long it takes you to get ready in morning or whether to have a shower in morning or evening.

If you are feeling like this you need to talk to your GP - morning shifts are hard and its easy to get lost in the rat race and into a slump in the evenings but depression and anxiety would cause fatigue and the urge to just want to sleep all the time.

I would def suggest maybe taking time to think about how you are actually feeling and address it.

Thank you for highlighting that

. I get help once a week which is a huge positive. My GP refered me years ago and I've been seeing the same person for a long time. Thankfully my mental state is fine and I can manage day to day task. It's just tiredness that's getting to me and unfortunately causing me to be a bit moody and lethargic more so than normal. The tiredness is just starting to get to me physically as I haven't the energy to do anything and I've realised now that I can change that myself and its not a huge problem. Starting tomorrow morning and I plan on using the new routine. I'm thankful that I can nip this in the bud quickly and not let myself feel worse

inforfun

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Aren't you lucky to be able to pick and choose . Not everyone is . Gardai , nurses , firefighters etc etc all do alternative shifts . I did for years and lived to tell the tale !
6am-2pm
2pm -10pm
10pm -6am

Nothing to do with luck.
I never applied for jobs that had those kind of schedules and left jobs that were introducing them.

It just isnt for me.

mcgucc22

You are getting up way too early for a 07.00 start. I start at 07.00 as well, I'm up at 05.50, leave at 06.20 and am at work for 06.45 and that's taking my time, I could get up and leave a few minutes later and still have plenty of time, how can it take you 1 hour and 20 min to get everything done in the morning? You must be practically sleep walking around the house. No wonder you are wrecked in the evening!

jester77

Start working out, it's great for the energy. I'm up at 6am every morning unless the kids are in earlier. Usually go to bed between 1 and 2 am. Getting in a workout can be hard, you just need to squeeze it in somewhere. I usually hit the gym between 11 and midnight. There are many evenings where I didn't feel like it, but I always drag myself to do it. And I have never once regretted going. Always feel good afterwards.

sbsquarepants

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

What I taught was a huge problem actually turned out to be a small simple change.

You know what I call that?

A good result!:D

NIMAN

As someone working shifts over 20 years, any shift can drain you.

Best advice is not to neglect your sleep. It can be hard, but if you're getting up at 5am, you have to realise that you need to go to bed 2 or 3 hours earlier than a day worker, and that can be hard to do at time.

No-one want to go to bed at 8 or 9pm, but your body will thank you for it.

(Now, if I could only heed my own advice a bit more)

Giveaway

Fixed hours arent a health hazard
The real killers are the changing shift patterns

iamwhoiam

inforfun wrote: »

Nothing to do with luck.
I never applied for jobs that had those kind of schedules and left jobs that were introducing them.

It just isnt for me.

Well you are lucky to be able to pick and choose what jobs you can turn down
Not everyone is in that position

inforfun

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Well you are lucky to be able to pick and choose what jobs you can turn down
Not everyone is in that position

Also nothing to do with luck.
It is about choices you make

If you really, really want to be a nurse of garda, shifts come with the job. That is not unlucky, that is just how it is.

Knex*

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

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

I find getting up before 7 a big deal, and have spent the last few years of my life ensuring that I don't have to, so I wouldn't belittle that either.

I wouldn't be the greatest sleeper in the world, but a previous job used to have some shift work and I'd end up having to be in work at 7am for a week or two straight, and it would just completely change my mood. I absolutely hated it and the effect it had on me.

Best of luck with the getting up later and the couple of other changes people have suggested. An extra 45 mins in bed in the morning can make a world of a difference, especially as it accumulates!

G1032

Colten Dazzling Smugness wrote: »

I do go to bed early haha, little too early if you ask me. It was honestly more of a is my shift the problem or me. It's me. It wasnt until other boardies posted that I realised I was being too egar on having more "wind down time" when in reality I was tiring myself out by giving myself too much time. Writing down what was "wrong" made me see it clearly as we'll

How long have you been on this shift??

I have to up at around 5 to leave the house at 05:30 to get in for work at 06:40. Finish at 3. Home at 5 past 4.
Winters are a pain in the @ss and it's easy enough get tired during the winter months. But you've got to make the most of the time you have to get a bit of exercise in etc etc.

2 evenings a week I'll get an hours training in. One of those evenings will be shortly after work. The 2nd evening after the kids are in bed. The other evenings it's catch up on house work etc or sit for an hour in front of telly before bed.

Summers are much easier. I find I don't need as much sleep for whatever reason in summer. Easier to get out and about and the long evenings allow for more exercise/training.

The aim is to be in bed at half 9 most nights. Doesn't always work out that way and every few weeks it's hit the bed at 8 o'clock straight after the kids go to bed. Sleep in till 7 on Sat and Sun!!

It works pretty well tbh. I'd much prefer be home at 4 and in bed at half 9 than get home at 6 and in bed at 11 or whatever.

Just try and get a bit to eat when you get home after work then get out and about a few evenings a week. Take another evening to maybe chill in front of telly or whatever. Just a balance is needed.

You also mentioned something about Berocca (or an equivalent)......do you really need to take this stuff? You said yourself you get a big crash a couple hours or so after taking it. Does it give you an energy boost only to cause a crash a while later?? Proper diet and hydration and sleep should reduce the need for these kind of energy boosting tablets.

lainey_d_123

inforfun wrote: »

Nothing to do with luck.
I never applied for jobs that had those kind of schedules and left jobs that were introducing them.

It just isnt for me.

Lucky for you that other people put up with it then, isn't it? I'm sure if you had a serious accident at 4am, you'd hope that other people had been willing to work through the night or get up early that day.

dartboardio

Nothing wrong with that routine, I'd love it, it's the way you see it I guess..

The grass is always greener and all that.

t1h9mgqsxopj0r

G1032 wrote: »

How long have you been on this shift??

I have to up at around 5 to leave the house at 05:30 to get in for work at 06:40. Finish at 3. Home at 5 past 4.
Winters are a pain in the @ss and it's easy enough get tired during the winter months. But you've got to make the most of the time you have to get a bit of exercise in etc etc.

2 evenings a week I'll get an hours training in. One of those evenings will be shortly after work. The 2nd evening after the kids are in bed. The other evenings it's catch up on house work etc or sit for an hour in front of telly before bed.

Summers are much easier. I find I don't need as much sleep for whatever reason in summer. Easier to get out and about and the long evenings allow for more exercise/training.

The aim is to be in bed at half 9 most nights. Doesn't always work out that way and every few weeks it's hit the bed at 8 o'clock straight after the kids go to bed. Sleep in till 7 on Sat and Sun!!

It works pretty well tbh. I'd much prefer be home at 4 and in bed at half 9 than get home at 6 and in bed at 11 or whatever.

Just try and get a bit to eat when you get home after work then get out and about a few evenings a week. Take another evening to maybe chill in front of telly or whatever. Just a balance is needed.

You also mentioned something about Berocca (or an equivalent)......do you really need to take this stuff? You said yourself you get a big crash a couple hours or so after taking it. Does it give you an energy boost only to cause a crash a while later?? Proper diet and hydration and sleep should reduce the need for these kind of energy boosting tablets.

I drink it every morning before my breakfast. I've become so used to drinking it that I almost think I feel the effect of not drinking it if Ive forgotten. I say its a mind over matter thought

lawred2

7am isn't that early