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third shift - sm

Posted: Dec 10, 2009

I was wondering if it's really worth it to work the 3rd shift? Does the additional CPL really make that much of a difference. Does the workload stay steadier during that time? I've been offered a 3rd shift part-time job, but just don't know if it's worth revamping my entire day to work this late. Would anybody working this shift let me know how it works out as far as sleep, daytime errands, etc.?

Third shift - Tired of Typin

[ In Reply To ..]
I worked third shift for a month years ago. It was all I could do to stay awake and not run across the hall and go to sleep. I worked third shift in a factory and it was tough staying awake, but there were people around and the job involved moving around. No so sitting and typing all night. It was the longest month of my life!

Third shift was not worth it, at least for me - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
First of all, no, the additional cpl was just not worth it for me. Some companies don't offer a shift differential at all any more, but the of the ones that do, it seems to be a fractional cent, like maybe 1/2 cent more for working third shift. And that minimal increase in pay was just not worth it for the added stress and lifestyle changes needed for working on third shift.

Unless you are a real night person, it is extremely hard to stay awake and stay focused during those hours. And then you have completely flip-flop your day/night times. You work when other people are sleeping, and you are sleeping when everybody else is awake and going about their normal day.

Depending on family and friends, sometimes they just don't understand that you're not awake at noon, that you're sleeping because you just got to bed a few hours ago, so sometimes the phone calls during the daytime which end up waking you up are very hard to deal with, and I would suggest nothing less than turning off your phone during the daytime hours when you're sleeping.

Daytime errands are doable if you can wake up early enough in the afternoon to get them done while everybody else is awake and going about their day. Although for me, it usually ended up that I would end up doing my errands, doctor appointments, etc., just as everybody else was getting to the end their days, i.e. I would have to take the last or latest appointments of the day. Grocery shopping and errands of that nature were usually done at night.

So overall, I didn't like it and I did it for almost 3 years. But the minimal extra money wasn't worth it to me and I was never so glad in my life to go back to working a "normal" daytime schedule and getting back to a normal routine and a normal life!

Some people are real night people though, so for someone like that, working the third shift is probably a perfect fit.

Natural night owl - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
Like another poster said, you have to be a natural night owl to even consider working third shift. I have worked that shift at hotels for years and some days are easier than others. No matter how much sleep you get, the hour between 4 am and 5 am is hard and you're going to be sleepy no matter what. The body's natural circadian rhythm will not be denied. It's why armies attack at dawn.

If you do decide to try it out, get black curtains or material to drape over the windows in your bedroom. Keep your house cooler than your normally do, or keep a fan going in the bedroom to keep you cool as you sleep. Get ear plugs if you have to. Turn off the phone. I can't reinforce that part enough. TURN OFF THE PHONE. Your family will not get it or not remember your sleeping patterns. Either they'll never remember when you're sleeping or they'll never call you because they're afraid they'll wake you up. Tylenol PM will also be your friend.

The other thing to keep in mind is you will be much more isolated than you already are even as a day time shift MT. The graveyard hours are tough not just because of the complete switcharoo in the hours, but because no one else you know will be awake when you're awake. That part can be really tough to deal with.

If you have kids and a husband, that could make it even harder. You said it's a part time offer, though (which I just went back and re-read.) How many days a week does that entail, do you know? Would this be two or three days a week at most? That may be doable, more so than if you're doing it full time. I work three nights a week at the hotel on the graveyard shift and it's doable because I get to have a "real" schedule the other four days of the week. I also don't have a husband and kids who have to worry about keeping quite while I'm trying to sleep.

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