Shift workers; what do you do on your days off?

[BrokenToy]

I worked 12hrs on Monday finishing at midnight. So yesterday I basically did the school run, two loads of washing and cleaned the bathroom. That was it in terms of chores. The rest of the day I read a book and watched some tv. DH wfh so he spent his breaks with me.

I’m working this evening and I’ve done very little today. I always end up feeling a bit guilty but then I think well DH sits down in the evenings (most of the time) so my day is just in reverse.

I rarely have the energy or inclination to go out and do stuff unless it’s a weekend and DH and the kids are around.

What do you think? Am I a particularly lazy arse or normal? I work an average of 55h per week. I’ve just finished a qualification so days like today used to be used for study for the last year and a bit. Now it’s my free time.

Why do you feel guilty for relaxing in your down time? You work 55hours a week?
I just don't get posts like this.
Of course you know your not lazy

I dunno; I just feel like other people work full time and then spend days off cleaning their house or seeing friends or gardening and I don’t do any of that. Dh does a lot of the housework and I really just do bathrooms and decluttering these days.

I think I’m just having a moment. It’s hot and I haven’t moved off the sofa for hours 🤣

I sort of get what you mean. I'm a shift worker but always feel I have to 'do' something productive on my days off when my 9-5 friends are working. I'm also single with no children though so always looking to fill my time.

However if I worked Mon-Fri 9-5 I wouldn't feel guilty lying on my sofa watching tv on the weekend like I'm doing now!

I'm actually looking to get out of shift work.

Exactly! Everyone around me is at work so I feel like a lazy arse, but I wouldn’t have any shame in flopping on the sofa of an evening after a days work.

It’s a weird mindset and even after two years of this I haven’t managed to get my head round it.

I did shift work for ages and I did very little really other than what you described as I was far too tired after night shifts to do anything else.
I definitely didn't feel guilty though or think I was lazy.

I switched to days and manage to fit a it more in now

I've worked shifts for the last decade.

Today I had a lie in until 10am, then pottered around cleaning for about 15 minutes, went for a swim and sauna, had a shower and deep conditioned my hair, had breakfast, watched the Mo Farah documentary while giving myself a pedicure, now sat on the sofa with a cup of tea thinking about getting dressed and what to have for lunch. Might nip into town to take some stuff to the charity shop.

If I told my mother in law what I'd done this morning, she'd say that I've been lazying about this morning, because it's a Wednesday. She wouldn't say anything if it was a Saturday or Sunday though! Today is my Saturday!

Yeah I think it’s the judgement from other people that bothers me. I’ve stopped listening to my mother but for example my opposite neighbour came over yesterday to pick up a parcel and lightheartedly commented on the overgrown bush in the front garden. I said it’s not something I’ve had the time or headspace to tackle but I was painfully aware that this was 3pm and I’d done fuck all all day.

I’m pretty sure she thought ‘well you could have done it today’. But I’m just a bit paranoid 🤣

I work nights, so generally catch up with sleep on the 1st day off.

Reading, catch up on laundry, watch tv, sunbathe, whatever I want - it’s time off !