For people who work shifts?

Question

I do earlies (7:30- 3:30) and lates (2-10) and always find I come home feeling more tired on the earlies than the lates, despite that I don't really change the time I get up, so I do lots more when I'm on lates. Does anyone find the same and why do you think that is?

Answer 1

try making sure you go to bed early when your on earlies. i know what you mean...always seems harder to get up on earlies

Answer 2

When I'm on early shift (I start at 6 and finish at 3) I find getting up really difficult. At work I'm usually alright but once I get home all I want to do is nap! The afternoon shift is 2-11 which is horrible cause you can't really do anything and the night shift is 10 p.m to 7 a.m which is ok but all I want to do is sleep when I get home. At least on the early shift you have time to go out or do things with your family.

Answer 3

6 to 2:30

Answer 4

I mostly do lates(2-10/3-11) or split shifts (10-2+6-10). I'm more of a morning person and don't have the same motivation if I'm on a late shift. I should go to bed earlier and do more with my mornings though: that would definitely help!!x

Answer 5

That's because you were up early. If I'm on an early and that's the only day shift I've picked up (I'm permanent nights) this rota. I can't be bothered to do anything when I get in and either flop of come on here.

A late is better because you don't get up that early, you can get something done before you go to work and you're ready for bed (and it's actually bed time) when you get back.

Only problem with a late (which is why I picked only earlies up) is that you always have one eye on the clock as you're doing stuff as you're aware that you have to be sitting in that office waiting for handover at by 2.30. Once an early is finished, your time's your own and you can relax.

Answer 6

Everyone has a particular clock - my husband and I struggle because he's hitting his stride as I'm falling asleep.

And it's actually a bunch of clocks. If you keep a log, you'll find that you have times that work brilliantly for physical stuff where the mind goes away, and times where that's appallingly frustrating - and times when you want to do thoughtful stuff that's active - writing, say - and then times when you just want to passively absorb things.

There's been a study done, where sick days and accidents at work that involved shifts dropped dramatically, just by allowing people to pick their favourite shift and *only ever work that one*.

The thing where you go from one shift to another and then back again is a dumb approach, and has been known to be dumb since the very early days of time and motion - 1920's, in fact.

Why do employers still do it then? Who knows? Incompetence can't be ruled out...

Helen

Answer 7

I know exactly how ya feel the way i look at it is id rather b tired at home on earlies than in work on lates nowt 2 do but watch the clock on lates till its time to go to work. I recently got switched to day work and i cud not b happier. done shift for 12 yrs. Check out tis stat : u lose 50% of ur life on shift 6 years of my life tat i"ll never get back.

Answer 8

I worked shifts for many years 6-2 or 2-10 & 10-6 & I never got used to it

Answer 9

I work several different shifts, but one thing I'll say is this: If you're already up and have to work a late shift, your mind & body will program you to not allow your self to get into "relax" mode because it's anticipating a busy evening. However, If you're doing early shifts, your body gets "amped" earlier, then lets its guard down after work and you start to unwind, even without noticing. This contributes to making you tired.

: )

Answer 10

I work the grave shift, I'm NOT a morning person..its hard for me to maintain morning goings on..I'm usually not too human in the morning anyway..feel great about working my shift and after awhile my Gf and myself has adjusted pretty well to having different shifts and seeing each other which at first was madness...

Answer 11

maybe you need to find things to do after your job during early shirt (get a hobbie or something) as oppose to late shifts you have plenty of time the rest of the day