Does anyone do night work?

[Tranquilitybaby]

I’ve been offered a part time job that requires a 12 hour night shift once a week. Just wondered if anyone else does a long shift and how do you cope with it? Does it totally mess your body clock up? It’s only two or three shifts a week, the other two would just be during the day.

Thanks

I used to do this. I think it will be ok if you can get some sleep in the day and if it's not too much of a quick turnaround back onto days. Obviously some people adapt better than others. I found it harder as i got older. I may be starting to do one nightshift a week again soon but it will only be a nine hour night and hopefully fairly easy work just sitting with someone at home. When I did nights before they were 12 hour nights and it was on an absolutely manic ward. It was stressful and exhausting.

I do rotating shifts (days/lates/nights) and some of the nights are 12 hours. They were my favourite shifts but I've just had a baby so they probably won't be when I return to work and have a kid to look after after a night shift! I found them easy to adapt to.

I do 3 x 12.5hr night shifts a week and quite honestly, it's the flipping back to days that will get you. I've used up some annual leave over the last few weeks and just done the odd, 1 off night and was equally tired, if not more tired than when I do 3 night shifts.

Obviously, the money is slightly better and you can make it sort of work with young kids but be prepared to feel like death for a proportion of your week.

Thanks all. This would just be one 12 hour night shift a week, not back to back and one other day, so I hope that’d make things a lot easier

Yes I do 3x10hr night shifts a week. You get used to them after a while. I try and rest as much as I can before hand even if I can't actually sleep. I try and stay in my normal routine as much as possible so when I get home I still have breakfast then I go to sleep. On my last night shift of the week when I get home I have a couple of hours sleep, go and pick ds up from school and then carry on as normal.

7 nights in a row, 8 hours, one week in four, roughly.

I recommend earplugs and blackout curtains.

Thanks everyone. I couldn’t do more than one or two nights I don’t think. This is just one long 12 hour shift. I’ve just never experienced it, so have no idea what to expect.

Work a combination of days & nights 12 hour shifts

Don't like working nights

I think 1 night would be alright but do factor in that the day before you start the night is wasted as we as the day after. You will be trying to rest before and catch up on sleep after.

Thanks hate nights but did them for years when I had small children. Needs must…..

@CosmicComfort

I think 1 night would be alright but do factor in that the day before you start the night is wasted as we as the day after. You will be trying to rest before and catch up on sleep after.

Thanks hate nights but did them for years when I had small children. Needs must…..

Yes it’s definitely a factor that I realise is going to have an effect on me. Thank you for the advise

1 night a week seems odd. Depending on the company, I would have thought its normally X nights per month. Would that be an option to do say 4 nights in a row in a month, rather than 1 per week?

In my early 20's I did 7 nights in row, but 7 days off. It takes it out of you though, plays havoc with friends/family life and your own health in cases.

I did it for about 6 months, a caring job. It was much easier than the caring job I’d had before but I couldn’t cope. I gained loads of weight too but I don’t know why because I didn’t feel I was eating much more.

Having said that, I do feel I was sort of burning the candles both ends. Finishing in time to run home and let DH get to work, get kids ready and to school and try to catch some sleep then pick them up etc. But it really works for some people who love it - my friend’s been doing it years and says she wouldn’t ever go back to days if she had the choice. Can you just try it? And if it doesn’t work out apologise and move on, no harm done.

I stopped doing three nights a week to just one night a week on weekends.

My sleep was crap for the next three night. I wouldn't be sleeping until 3-4am.

I started doing two days a week as well as my one night a week and I was fucked.

Doing a 12 hour day shift when you have only have a few hours sleep take it out of you.I finally stopped the one night and now do just days.

Seriously OP you will soon see that one night will Affect you so much