What's the earliest you've had to get up for work?

[FellowGlower]

I've just got a new job and two days of the week I have to get up at 4:30am. I've been staying positive about it but now thinking have I made a mistake. Im usually up at 6 on a normal day so hoping the 1.5 extra hours won't make too much difference.

Would like to hear of others experience with early starts and any tips to make it more manageable.

Up at 3. 2.5 hour drive. 12.5 hour shift. 2.5 hour drive back. Wasn’t fun won’t lie.

I have a 5.30am (leaving home) start two mornings per week. It’s ok for me, but I’d find it difficult 5 days a week, so I stay in hotel closer to where I work two nights. I find it OK, but it does impact my weekends off too, because my body clock makes me wake early.

I could change jobs, but I like what I’m doing. DH goes for early morning run, so it’s ok for him too. When our boys (one in Uni, one in armed forces) are back they are the ones that complain about noise in the morning!!

About 4am, working for an international company. When I worked for that company for a short while in their home land, the hours were the best ever for a single person in her twenties. 12-8pm. I had all morning free to have a lie in, go to the gym or meet friends for coffee. Then straight after work, we'd all go out to a bar or music club without having to worry about getting up early next day.

Ever? 3am. Sometimes didn’t get in before 2pm. Now? 4am, latest 12 midnight. I’m soon moving location so that will change to 4.30 am.

when I move away I will have to get a 4.15 train for early shifts. I’m going to buy myself a neck pillow for naps.

5am

When I was nursing, I absolutely hated the early shifts. I had to be up at five to get to the ward on time. I would rather work nights than get up early.

I was so happy when I got a job on a day case unit. We started work at eight, and did 12 shifts.

Routinely get up at all times of the day and night to be able to manage everything. Often have to pay a carer silly money to do the same, but they get use of a bed once done.
Usual stuff about if 4am or earlier then pre prep everything the night before for sanity.
If you're a driver, there's a different set of drivers on the road before 6am, more tolerant and able and less competitive generally, and a different rhythm of what flies. But also the poor exhausted saps coming home from night shifts who drift, the dead at the wheel mini cab drivers on their way home, and the occasional drunk drugged driver to be aware of.

The compensation of seeing the dawn break has it's own thing.

I intentionally do this in the winter months - waking up at 4am at least twice a week and commute into the City (London) and being at my desk by 6.45am. I do leave by 2pm though. I’m a morning person so this gets the winter blues out of the way for me

I couldn't do it regularly, personally. I've had to get up at 3.30am to get an early flight for work but I wouldn't make a habit of it.

For me, there is work and there is work. On occasion l have to get up in the middle of the night for a video meeting with people in the southern hemisphere. Complete with make up and a nice top. It’s a different matter waist down though. I usually go back to bed afterwards.

Leaving to go out to work varies, but l have been known to leave the house at 5:00am but rarely.

I once worked at the airport. Shift started at 4.30 needed to be up at 3. Some shifts I didn’t finish until 16.30 it was hell tbh.

Right now I'm up at 4am 5 times a week. A few years ago, it was 3am.

2-3 mornings a week I am up for 4:45 to take DC to squad. I swim at the same time. Drive back and then go to work. Other days I sleep in tile 5:30 then head to pilates.
I tend to go to bed at 9. I can if I'm doing something fun stay up later but if it's just on the couch watching TV I sleep.

Routinely, 6 am, but occasionally as early as 4am if travelling.