Those who start work early (5am shift) how do you do it?

[coffeeoclock]

Not an AIBU but need the traffic!
Start a new job on Monday, start at 5am and finish at 1pm. It's a part time role so only 16hrs per week.

How do I manage this? Currently going to bed at 2/3am! I have to wake up at 3.30 in order to get ready, eat and make my way there on time.

I can't fall asleep early at all, I'm actually thinking of exhausting myself tomorrow so I'll fall asleep by 8pm? 😂

Help me!

The only way is to change your habits religiously, otherwise you will become exhausted and feel ill (I have been there, but it was a long time ago). You should change your whole day so that you wind down towards your early bedtime. If you are getting up at 3.30 am, you should really be in bed by 7.30pm. Your internal clock will eventually adapt, but it takes time. I hope you haven't got kids as well!

Dh gets up at 4am. He tries to be in bed for 9pm.

It’s been a while, but i used to regularly do 4 and 5 am starts. The night before my first one I would just go to bed whenever, sometimes I’d deliberately stay up late. That way I’d be massively tired by the end of my shift and more than ready to go to bed early that night. Then your body is in the right ‘time zone’ for very early starts.

First day back on earlies is always tough. Good luck with the new job!

I'm a shift worker and my earlies start at 0530. I prep as much as I can the night before, so my lunches and snacks are ready to go. I shower and wash my hair the night before so I don't have to be messing around with a hair dryer at 0430. I lay my uniform out so I'm not scrabbling around in the morning for it.

I also make sure I wake up as early as possible the day before and do lots of active jobs all day to make sure I'm as tired as possible before going to bed. I'm usually in bed by 9 pm and asleep not soon after. Also, if you're on a run of earlies, the next morning is easier as your body clock should be shifting.

I do live only a ten minute drive from the office, so I'm able to get out of bed by 4.30 am, get dressed and brush teeth, and I'm out of the house. You do get used to it.

16 hours a week??? And you're asking how you will.cope?

Get up early.

My DH starts work at 6. He gets up at 4.45. He goes to bed at 8.30 Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday (but is asleep in the couch soon after 9 🤣

If your currently staying up late just because of your current/old job then you should adapt. But if you're naturally a severe night owl then chances are you never really will and a job with 5am starts was a bad idea.

Sorting out as much as possible the night before helps though.

Can you also eat breakfast on the way/when you get there?

I start at 7, have to leave the house at 5.40 to catch the bus. Dont wake up until 5.20 at the earliest! You need to do all your prep the night before, hair, shower, breakfast, uniform, lunch prep so you literally just need to get up and go. Most places that start early have a break time at 'breakfast' so you don't need to worry about eating before a shift. I switch between day and night shifts and need to break myself in to them on days off so a few days before day shift I have an early bed time and get up super early

I do 6-2. I'm up at 4, leave the house at ten past five four a half hour bike ride.
I have my clothes ready, bag packed and breakfast done down to kettle filled and tbag and spoon in cup.
I dont have to think on a morning then.
I go to bed at 9 and read till half past. Dd is 12 and tucks me in!

I agree about the prep. I wash my hair etc the night before and my regular bedtime is 8pm. I still get tired some days but I can function so that is ok. My problem now is that I am so used to it that I regularly wake up early but that could just be me.

I’m up at 4 to be in work for 5am - it’s tough and even worse at this time of year. I start getting ready for bed at 9 and am normally asleep by 10pm so six hours sleep which is nowhere near enough for me. No social life anymore, even the cinema is a struggle. My health is deteriorating as I can’t keep normal mealtimes and I’m so tired when I get home that exercise has gone out the window. The only bonus for me are sunny afternoons in the summer - mostly spent sipping Pimms & snoozing in the garden.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend it, but if it’s only 2 days a week it’s doable

Get work clothes, work bag, food ready the night before, leave it ready at the door

Go to bed/sleep at least 8 hours before you need to get up

Set 2 alarms, incase you miss the first one

Get up the second your alarm goes off.
Go to the bathroom.
Make a drink
Have a shower
All within 10 mins of your alarm going off. If you keep hitting the snooze button it will seem so much worse

Do everything the night before (showering, making sandwiches etc). Your body clock will get used to it after a few days :-)

Get up as early as possible the day before your first shift
Prep everything the night before
Be prepared to never socialise during the week again
Bed for 8pm
Lights off for 9pm

I used to start at 5am and work 42 hours a week, it was alright. I needed to be in bed for 10:30 and asleep by 11 - up at 4am. It wasn't really enough sleep but I couldn't sleep before then, really. I caught up with sleep at the weekend.

I used to do full-time hours on a 6am start.

I never tried to go to bed too early or I would just lie there and get even less sleep. I'd try and be asleep by 10pm to be up for 5. Get up, stick kettle on, get changed, drink coffee, brush teeth and go. I had breakfast at work on my morning break around 9.30-10am.

I worked in food/catering so had a shower as soon as I got home from work at 2pm - saved time in the morning!

Have been doing these 5am shift times for nearly 12 years now😱 beware - it doesn’t suit everyone!! Usually try and get at least an hours sleep before midnight, that helps, and set at least 2 alarms ... snooze button is NOT your friend☹️
Can’t lie, it’s horrid on wet wintry mornings but lovely in May and June when it’s light at 4am and you see some glorious sun rises!
I always have a nap in afternoon, it’s a life-saver but don’t sleep too long as you won’t want to sleep at night.
My doctor is not a fan of these early shifts, she says that ‘getting up in the middle of the night’ is not good for the body (it’s a proven fact apparently) but it suits me ... you’ll soon find out if it’s for you or not!! Best of luck and hope it works out for you! X

Thank you everyone! Some great tips here! I don't have kids thankfully so that's one hurdle out the way haha.

16hrs is a lot for me though as I suffer from epilepsy so it's quite hard for me with the early starts.

Think I've got some great tips now, I'm planning on getting up early tomorrow and just being busy all day and hopefully I'll fall asleep by 9pm!

I do 3 shifts a week where I start at 5am. I live a short drive so don't need to get up till 4am.
I love late nights but have to get to bed for 10,asleep for half 10.
I have a baby and busy life and manage it. You do get used to it.
The early finish is the best thing! Plus it's lovely in the summer being up so early.
Welcome to the mad shift haha

I have epilepsy and work full time. What's the connection to that??

The real challenge will be in staying up after you finish at 1pm for the first few weeks!

I did this for a couple of years. You adapt quickly, it actually took another year after leaving to stop waking at 4. As other said prep everything the night before, my secret weapon was a daylight alarm clock that mimics daylight and wakes you gradually, I had a second conventional alarm but always woke before this.

I did this for a few years, I went to bed at 11 and then napped for an hour or two after work. I was young and childfree then though.