Can I please rant about working nights?

[ColdLasagna99]

Just need a bit of a rant and some support really. Did night 3/6 last night, in bed by 6am and now I’m wide awake ffs. Back in at 5pm today. It’s so busy at work and the most bullshit stuff seems to happen when you’re the most tired. I have a good routine going, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. I work alone and am responsible for a lot of care - I think I’m fatigued with that as well.

I’m not in healthcare and I don’t have DC to look after. I fucking salute anyone who does and works nights.

I just feel a bit hopeless today. What was meant to be a COVID stop-gap job has turned into a year’s worth of night shifts. I’m applying for other jobs and hoping to get out soon!

Rant away.

I work nights 12 1/2 hour shifts, in charge of a small team. Been working nights for many years and prefer it to working day shift.

Bloody hell, hats off to you. Any tips for the days where you feel like shit?

There are definitely advantages to night shifts, and I guess shift work in general. Just not feeling them at the moment!

That sounds awful. I’m currently on a contract that ends next month. One job offer is night shifts. I have kids and just don’t think I could do it. Although it’d make sense money wise as no child care costs.

Have you got anything medicine wise that could help you sleep?

Rant away.
I work 3 nights a week and this week I have done 5 nights as i needed some overtime before I go on 3 weeks annual leave. Mine is 7pm - 7am and I’m happy it’s school holiday so I get few hours extra sleep. School time I go to bed 9am and I have to be up 2:30pm for school run, cook dinner and then work. It’s hard work but no choice as I can’t afford childcare and husband works away.

I don’t know how anyone can work nights and not be an exhausted mess so hats off to you all!

I have a black out blind and curtains, which blocks out all light. It's been a god send, especially when it has been sunny and hot. I only get about 4 hours sleep, been like that for years.

I do partial nights, in that I mean I start late afternoon and finish somewhere between 1.30-2.30am. During term time it’s challenging, I get around 3-4hrs sleep, get up, do school run and back to bed once I’m home for a couple of hours.
i am permanently tired but I wear earplugs and a eye mask when I go to bed which does help as no being woken by the phone or roadworks etc and the eye mask makes up for the fact the curtains are thin and not lined.
I’m not sure it’ll be a forever job, but at the moment it works around dps job and means there’s no childcare to arrange or pay for.

keep looking at other jobs, something will come up eventually!

Oh I also have a sign I bought off eBay that requests no one knock or ring doorbell which I place on the doormat outside when I’m sleeping!

That’s a good idea for the sign I will definitely buy one so people don’t disturb me

Rock on, fellow night shifters. I don’t know how you do it with kids. I hope you’re able to get a proper break, even if only once in a blue moon!

@makingmiracles I have done 5pm-1am in the past and it’s a lot more manageable. Hoping things will calm down soon and I can go back to something more like that. Agreed about the forever job thing as well.

I’m also doing a fair bit of overtime atm which will hopefully pay off one tenth of my electricity bill

@womaninatightspot I do have some Boots Sleepeaze stuff. It works but it does have a drowsy after-effect so I tend to take it on my days off. Think I’m going to have a decaf brew and try and chill out. Thanks for the kind words so far.

I didn't start doing nights till my youngest turned 18. I have been doing 2 extra shifts a month since I started nights, but I've told them no more.