shiftwork

FizzleSticks · 14-09-2014 03:55PM

This post has been deleted.

fergiesfolly · 14-09-2014 04:07PM

Just started dayshift two months ago, after 14 years of evenings.
Evening suited me better when I first started, but the last two years were painful. Was tired all the time and found motivating myself impossible at times.
Within weeks of moving to days, all that disappeared. Feel like I'm living again, the change is that huge.

beks101 · 14-09-2014 10:49PM

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

Yeh rotating shifts are the worst, but constant nights could **** you up too, even if that's all you ever do - the constant darkness, the isolation, the way you have a reverse routine to the norm, and have to fit things around it; the way you probably don't get as good a sleep during the day as you would at night, especially when there's the usual daytime noise going on outside. My mother said working night duty as a nurse nearly drove her to insanity.

I'd work a week of nights every few months no problem - might be kinda interesting even, but constant night shifts would be hell for me.

I work two weeks of nights every 3 months or so, with a week off in between each. Seven nights on, seven nights off.

It's worth it for the weeks off, it always feels like a freebie holiday, but those seven nights can be tough going because you just don't sleep properly. I find by the time I leave the office it's bright outside, getting busy and lively in the office, and then when I leave I get swept up into London rush hour with commuters clambering all over the place, traffic, noise, chaos. And usually I've left an adrenalin-packed shift in a busy newsroom, so it's virtually impossible to wind down, get into bed and fall asleep.

So hard to adjust to the psychology of sleeping during a bright and busy day, that's definitely harder than the physical aspect of it. I'd average probably four hours between shifts for the entire week, then crash and burn by the end of it. Don't know how anyone does that kind of thing regularly - I'd be in desperate shape.

debabyjesus · 14-09-2014 11:07PM

The best thing about shiftwork is always having an excuse to miss shìtty functions and stuff normal people do on the weekends.

Its little paddys 7th birthday on the 25th? Oh jesus ive to work that weekend, I'll try get leave but we're just so streched at the moment...

Another good thing is when you've the full week off you can bum around like you're on the dole browsing in comfort in empty shops etc while all the 9to5ers are toiling away.

Shift work is bliss except for the numerous studies showing links to health problems. I just ignore those.

spiderman1885 · 14-09-2014 11:15PM

The time off you get with Shiftwork is so good. I get out on the bike, cook the next weeks dinners, goto the gym, generally enjoy myself for 4 days in a row. The thought of going back to a normal weekend right now frightens me.

In relation to the studies etc, I am far fitter & healthier now having started shift work, 2 weeks of 4 days on/off - then 2 weeks off nights 4 on/off - then when I had been working 'normal' 9-5.

Also, 9-5 often ends up being closer to 8-6... so my 12 hours shifts dont seem so bad!

The One Doctor · 14-09-2014 11:51PM

lufties wrote: »

Ok, anyone else find shiftwork just awful. I've been doing it on and off for 8 years. It makes me cranky, depressed, can't sleep when I need to. It has destroyed the relationship between my and my girlfriend. I really feel shiftwork is ruining my life. Only other option is take a massive paycut and barely get by.

Take the paycut, money isn't everything. You've actively destroyed your life and relationship over eight years for a few extra euro.

Wake up.

I've seen the effect it has first hand. My girlfriend had a shiftwork job (chef) for 3 years. It was hell for her. She finally decided that it wasn't for her. It took 6 months of unemployment to find a normal job, but now she has much more time and far less stress, more money and we have a baby on the way. Life is good and will get even better.

beks101 · 15-09-2014 01:01AM

debabyjesus wrote: »

The best thing about shiftwork is always having an excuse to miss shìtty functions and stuff normal people do on the weekends.

Its little paddys 7th birthday on the 25th? Oh jesus ive to work that weekend, I'll try get leave but we're just so stretched at the moment...

I actually think I spent most of my twenties using this old gem, granted most of the time it would be genuine because I work most weekends and every awkward hour under the sun. But sometimes it's great to have an instant go-to.

In my case the shift work is compounded by the fact that I work at a busy foreign news desk for a big network. So last minute cancellations are the norm.."sorry sh1t has hit the fan in Gaza, stuck here all night....ISIS bullsh1t, can't make it". My work schedule/life revolves around what's happening in the world. Can't really remember what it's like to have a normal schedule with evenings for hobbies and weekends for whatever the hell I like.

Anyone know a good shrink?

lufties · 15-09-2014 04:19AM

The One Doctor wrote: »

Take the paycut, money isn't everything. You've actively destroyed your life and relationship over eight years for a few extra euro.

Wake up.

I've seen the effect it has first hand. My girlfriend had a shiftwork job (chef) for 3 years. It was hell for her. She finally decided that it wasn't for her. It took 6 months of unemployment to find a normal job, but now she has much more time and far less stress, more money and we have a baby on the way. Life is good and will get even better.

Yea you are right, but living in london makes it harder to just quit your job and do something else. Contrary to what people think, salaries in london are quite poor generally. Because my skills are quite specialised, I would need to go into an unskilled position to get another job.

Im currently trying to get an internal transfer within the company I work, which isn't much consolation given the problems shiftwork has already caused me. I if don't get a transfer to normal hours I will probably quit in the new year.

hidinginthebush · 15-09-2014 04:57AM

I feel your pain op. I work shift, week of nights, week of days, weekend of nights, weekend of days, it's a five week cycle. In work at the moment.

It's funny, when i started I thought it was great with all the time you have off, then I moved onto days for a year and a half. While the weekends were painfully short, at least you got to see people, I can't think of the amount of occasions I've had to miss as it was a case of miss a night out or take 24 to 36 hours holidays to attend.

Currently looking for a 9-5er, when i started here it was the only place I could get a job (stupid recession), but there seems to be more positions opening up around the place. I'll just keep enjoying the savage pay and no social life until then.

lufties · 15-09-2014 05:43AM

hidinginthebush wrote: »

I feel your pain op. I work shift, week of nights, week of days, weekend of nights, weekend of days, it's a five week cycle. In work at the moment.

It's funny, when i started I thought it was great with all the time you have off, then I moved onto days for a year and a half. While the weekends were painfully short, at least you got to see people, I can't think of the amount of occasions I've had to miss as it was a case of miss a night out or take 24 to 36 hours holidays to attend.

Currently looking for a 9-5er, when i started here it was the only place I could get a job (stupid recession), but there seems to be more positions opening up around the place. I'll just keep enjoying the savage pay and no social life until then.

Cheers, I did a bit of reflection tonight about what went wrong in my relationship. It was a few things, but shiftwork played a big part. She had a social life and I didn't, I began to resent that and became insecure that she would think of me as a loser. I then behaved like an arrogant dickhead and drove her away. I know weekends are painfully short but it beats going a month with a few days off during the week while working 12 hour nights every weekend.

Galwayguy35 · 15-09-2014 06:01AM

I did shiftwork for 14 years, didn't mind it because the night work was better money and I have no problem sleeping in the daytime.

Where I work now it's 7am to 3pm and it's grand to be home in the evening, there is an evening shift 3pm to 11pm but I wouldn't work it because they don't get paid any extra for working those hours.

Novella · 15-09-2014 07:13AM

I worked from 7pm until 3am, getting home at around 4am, in my last job and I really liked it. It was harder to have a social life but at the time my boyfriend and I were living in different timezones so me being up at all hours meant we could talk more. I don't think I could've done it if he and I were living together though because the different schedules would've driven me crazy.

JustAddWater · 15-09-2014 07:24AM

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Your flying it now though are you?

Not with that altitude

chrysagon · 17-11-2014 07:27AM

JustAddWater wrote: »

Not with that altitude

A wing and a prayer!

shiftwork

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