To be pissed with messages after nightshift

[Alwaysoutofreach]

I have just finished night 4 of 6 nightshifts,
I am an absolute mess, im getting max 3hrs sleep a day, im SE London, its been absolutely scorching since Thursday last week 30s+, hard enough to sleep in at night, let alone during the day, with the added noise of daily life and people enjoying the weather.

This morning, I had been asleep for maybe an hour, 4hrs after my shift had finished (and I stayed late) and my phone starts going off.

Its my manager, informing me, and my team about a meeting on Thursday just after noon, wanting responses from everyone, so of course, new group, no notifications set up, everyone replying, I'm awake, my phone rarely goes off, my family know when im at work, and I woke in a panic that something had happened and now, im sat here, my rooms absolutely baking, 2 ceiling fans going, windows open wide, curtains open for the light breeze, door open, sleep is not happening, I could fry an egg in here!!

Im furious, the more I sit here not sleeping, the more annoyed I get.

Not only because my manager has woken me up (gr?) but also that I now have to try and be present for a meeting after day 6 of nightshift 7hrs after my shift finishes.

I want to message her back (privately away from the group) to make a point of this, it isn't the first time, and frankly, I've had enough, im sleep deprived, hot and bothered, and feeling stupidly fragile, but all my messages are sounding PA or rude.

Any magic sleeping in heatwave recipes? 😭

Meeting is a call btw.

I think YABU because you should switch your phone to silent.

My phone is always on silent, the vibration wakes me.

Agree with PP, anyone could have called but if you'd switched to silent then it wouldn't be an issue

Well turn the vibrate off then!

Fellow night shift worker. Set your phone to a do not disturb mode, you can select whose messages can get through this usually.
Get up and have a cool shower, then read a book (no screens) for a bit and go back to bed. Cold wet towel over you if its unbearable.

Don't go to the meeting. It isn't reasonable to expect you to be there.

Does your phone have a do not disturb mode on it?

It’s what I use when I have to have an early night for work.

The only way I can sleep is by taking sleeping tablets but I know that’s not a long term solution.

Turn off vibrate.

My phone is always on silent, the vibration wakes me.

Come on now, don't make me do all the work here.

Switch the vibration setting off when your switch it to silent. Most phones these days have a do not disturb function where you can let calls from people who will only ring you in an emergency through and silence/divert the others.

Alwaysoutofreach My ex was a policeman and hated night shifts in the warm weather - I hated them too as couldn't let the kids play in the paddling pool whilst he was sleeping! Tips for cooling down the room - can you leave the fans running while you are on shift so the room is cool(er) when you get back? Other tips - tepid shower about half an hour before bed, cold water in a hot water bottle, frozen ice pack under your pillow, assorted frozen ice packs around the bed but wrapped in a pillowcase to avoid frostbite! The only other things ex tried were ear plugs and eye masks. neither really helped him get quality sleep but at least stopped him being woken quite so often.

I won't be able to attend the meeting in Thursday. I'll have just finished 6 straight night shifts and it's been impossible to get more than a few hours of sleep during the day due to heat. I'm desperately looking forward to some quality sleep when it's hopefully going to be cooler. Incidentally, could you perhaps message me separately by email about meetings when I'm on night shift as new WhatsApp groups ping me wide awake! Thanks.

maybe turn your phone off, the manager could have just texted or left a note for you which you would see tonight when you go back I wouldn't expect anyone to stay up for a meeting after finishing their stint of nights. just say you're sorry, you won't be available to take the call. if you see your manager ask what the meeting is about and is there an agenda, anything you want to discuss that she can bring up for you and ask if they can leave you a copy of the minutes.

What are the shift patterns? Could you suggest the meeting is earlier or later so that it comes shortly after or before the shift instead of in the middle of anyone’s time off?

I have each group set up to vibrate or muted, maybe I am being unreasonable then, because I wouldn't shut of my only way of being contacted in an emergency just incase my boss wakes me.

Incidentally, could you perhaps message me separately by email about meetings when I'm on night shift as new WhatsApp groups ping me wide awake! Thanks

For goodness sake don't say this, just switch off notifications!

Flight mode!

Turn your phone off!!

I have all notifications silent but phone on sound. If it's urgent surely people would call not text?

Your work presumably involves different shifts. It's not unreasonable for your boss to leave you a message in WhatsApp/email/text etc for you to read when you are awake.

There are all sorts of options for phone notifications, if you have a smart phone there will be a setting as we have already said that allows emergency calls through but not everyday pings.

turn your phone off!!!

@GennyCrabby it was a new group set up at the time of the message, hence notifications waking me up, its really not that hard to understand is it!?

My shifts are set, I work the same shift pattern, the only change would be overtime or annual leave.

What phone do you have?

turn the phone off, or leave it in another room when you're sleeping. other staff will be inconvenienced by a midday meeting, there will always be staff who cannot attend.

My phone has an off-button. I use the off button whenever I don't want to be called.