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RE: 3rd shift work - zoesmom

Posted: Sep 15, 2010

I'm considering taking a 3rd shift job, which I've never done before. Any suggestions on making the transition to working 3rd shift from days, staying awake without depending on too much caffiene, getting enough sleep during the day, etc. I also have a puppy that will be at home with me during the day and am wondering if he needs to stay up with me at night so he will sleep during the day also. I would appreciate any and all advice. TIA.

My suggestions for third shift - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
Having been there, done that, here's my suggestions:

Make the change in hours from working days to nights gradually if at all possible, like going to sleep 1 hour later and getting up later 1 hour later until you are at your new work schedule hours for being awake. I had to make the switch quickly, so I just stayed up for 24 hours (caught a short catnap somewhere in between). It's a lot harder on your body to do it that way though. Do it gradually 1 or 2 hours at a time if you can.

Keep bright lights on in your work room while you're working at night. You have to try to "fool" your body into thinking nighttime is actually daytime, and daytime is actually nighttime. Get some good black out curtains for your bedroom for when you're sleeping during the day. You need your bedroom to be as dark as possible in order to get a good sleep.

And remember, most of the world runs exactly opposite of third shift work...most people are asleep during the hours that you'll be working, and they'll be up and around when you're trying to sleep. To cut down on the phone calls and doorbell ringing, make sure that your friends, family and neighbors know about your new working schedule. For all of the other phone calls (banks, telemarketers, etc) you might want to consider unplugging your phone while you're sleeping. Also, depending on how many people usually come to your door throughout the day, you might want to consider hanging a note on your door that says not to knock or ring the doorbell until after 2 pm (or whatever time you will usually be getting up).

As far as your puppy, that's going to be a really hard one. It's just not natural for animals (or humans for that matter) to be up at night and sleeping during the day. Some dogs can be retrained though, so it's possible, but you'll have to work on it a lot and try to keep the puppy on the same hours that you are on.

If you find yourself getting sleepy in the wee hours of the morning toward the end of your shift, try getting up, stretching and moving around a bit. Maybe try drinking a cold glass of water...but NOT coffee as too much caffeine, especially toward the end of your shift, will interfere with your sleep.

Third shift is not easy for most people. Some people are natural-born "night owls," so third shift is usually a lot easier for them. But for the rest of us who are not night owls, it's very difficult and very hard on the body.

Re: 3rd shift work - zoesmom

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks, great advice. My puppy is 6 months and as I work outside of the home right now, he's crated during the day. I figured he slept mostly during the day, so I hope he will stay on that schedule. I realize 3rd shift is going to be tough, but I'm hoping being available for my daughter and working at home will outweigh the negatives. Once again, thanks for the recommendations. I will put them to use.

third shift - tiredoftyping

[ In Reply To ..]
the dark bedroom is a MUST!! That improved my sleep immensely. I go to school during the day so I can't help you real much on doing a schedule but I use to feel like I was missing a lot while sleeping during the day but you have to remind yourself, that though others may be up while you are sleeping, they are working or at school so you are not missing everything. I do find that the earlier I can go to sleep after I get off the work, the better I do sleep and get things done when I get up. Hope that helps some.
PS-It also helps to schedule appts as late as you can or as soon as you get off work so you don't have to wake up in the middle of your "nap" and then try to go back to sleep, that is really hard to do.

How old is your daughter? - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
I've worked graveyard for years, but I live alone so didn't have to worry about interruptions from inside my household.

Depending on your daughter's age, though, third shift may not be that realistic. If she's going to be in school during the day, you'll need to be able to drop off to sleep as soon as you get her off to school, but then be prepared to be awakened as soon as she gets home. That should get you what, 6 hours of sleep or so. If you dont' get a nap before your shift starts, you're going to be absolutely dying to go to sleep around 4 am. No matter how much sleep you get, that period between 4 am and about 5:30 is the absolute hardest to stay awake. Been there and done that for years. I used to sit at the front desk and close my eyes for 10 or 15 minutes and that owuld help me get through the rest of the night.

Third shift is also extremely hard on your body. It's not natural for the human body to be awake at night. There are proven studies taht show that third shift workers have a higher incidence of diabetes, weight gain, heart problems, etc.

Make sure that if you do decide to take the job, the pay is worth it because you'll find it will be very hard on you physically.

RE: 3rd shift work - zoesmom

[ In Reply To ..]
My daughter is 6, in the 1st grade. My husband has agreed that if I do this, he would get her off to school in the mornings, which he does already because I have to be at work before she gets up. I'm hoping I can sleep until a half hour before she gets home. I'm kind of scared about weight gain also; I do realize it would be hard on my body, but I'm hoping to get my foot in the door, I should accept this position and hopefully a morning position will become available soon. The pay is hourly with a 15% incentive for graveyard and hospital benefits (hospital employee transcription position). As always, thanks for the responses. This website has proven itself invaluable for me over the past couple of years!

It can also age you quickly! - Carol

[ In Reply To ..]
I personally would not work third shift with a child.

3rd shifter - NightOwl

[ In Reply To ..]
Welcome to the Dark Side! I have worked 3rd shift, by choice, for 5 years. I'm one of those natural night people, I marvel at people who can work days... yuck.
You have had some great advice from others on how to manage the changeover. I would also offer that you should be ready for little to no support on overnights if you run into problems, since most companies offer tech support only during the day, supervision only during the day, etc. They may SAY they are 24 hours, but the reality is that they are usually not. You need to be an independent problem solver if you run into trouble, or simply wait for the Day Ladies to get up.
Working overnights means you will get little recognition for above-and-beyond effort since there is nobody there to see you do it, but the flip side of that is you can work without being bothered by the daytime intrigues that have become so rampant in today's corporate MTSOs. All they see, or care about, are your productions numbers.
Basically, working overnights means no opportunity for any kind of advancement since you're basically "invisible," but it also allows you to work undisturbed. In the types of companies that are around today, that's probably a plus. Good luck!

RE: 3rd shift work - zoesmom

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you all for the advice/recommendations. I have a lot to think about!

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