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20 years ago I worked nights. 10:30 pm to 6:30 am Sunday night through Friday morning. Got use to it. Hated going in at night but loved driving home well before anyone else was on the road. I could take my time, enjoy the morning hours, have a relaxed breakfast. Plus was able to go to bed without really ever setting an alarm clock. Never had to worry about medical appointments either. I could always schedule them for early morning times and still be home in time to get some solid sack time. Looking back I think I actually slept better when I worked nights. There's also something incredibly calming about taking that 15 minute break around 3:45 am, sitting on the loading dock, having a smoke, shooting the breeze with your co-workers, staring off into the dark night. Plus 3rd shift management was far more relaxed as well.
20 years ago I worked nights. 10:30 pm to 6:30 am Sunday night through Friday morning. Got use to it. Hated going in at night but loved driving home well before anyone else was on the road. I could take my time, enjoy the morning hours, have a relaxed breakfast. Plus was able to go to bed without really ever setting an alarm clock. Never had to worry about medical appointments either. I could always schedule them for early morning times and still be home in time to get some solid sack time. Looking back I think I actually slept better when I worked nights. There's also something incredibly calming about taking that 15 minute break around 3:45 am, sitting on the loading dock, having a smoke, shooting the breeze with your co-workers, staring off into the dark night. Plus 3rd shift management was far more relaxed as well.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I, too, worked the "night shift" for several years. And my experience was similar to yours. "Lunch break" was at 4 AM, and during the summer, we'd frequently be outside, in front of the building, tossing a football around, getting some fresh air.....
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I, too, worked the "night shift" for several years. And my experience was similar to yours. "Lunch break" was at 4 AM, and during the summer, we'd frequently be outside, in front of the building, tossing a football around, getting some fresh air.....
There was definitely something "fraternal" about working the night shift. Like a secret club or something.
There was definitely something "fraternal" about working the night shift. Like a secret club or something.
Now that you mention it, yes, there was. We used to work a lot of OT, which was somewhat of a drawback on the "graveyard shift", because it meant that we had to come into work on Friday night and work into Saturday mornings. As a single guy, I wasn't thrilled about having to cut short my social activities or attendance at sporting events, in order to go into work, on what was normally considered a "weekend night". But the extra money certainly was welcomed, and a "side benefit" of volunteering for that shift meant that you didn't have to try to adjust to varying sleep schedules, which came with rotating A-B shift work.
However, I still remember one particular Friday night, even though it occurred in the late 70s.....the building we worked in was 8 stories tall, and had a flat roof. On this particular evening, the city's recreation department was sponsoring a midnight fireworks display, over the downtown area. Our building was on the fringe of downtown, so we crewmembers "clocked in", got ourselves a cup of coffee, then took the freight elevator up to the roof, and watched the fireworks. We had a great view from up there, and management was none the wiser.....
I feel VERY Blessed to have such a great shift! I work from 10 PM to 6 AM...No drama, personalities etc.
The only issue I sometimes have is sleeping during the day! On my weekend now, and already somewhat off schedule! On a business day I would be getting ready for bed about now....
Take care..
I worked nights for 5 or 6 years. Loved it. Slept in the afternoon, got up and left for the job. Several hours to do things during the day. BUT, 10 years after going back to a day job (and now retired), my sleep schedule is still broken.
I worked nights for 5 or 6 years. Loved it. Slept in the afternoon, got up and left for the job. Several hours to do things during the day. BUT, 10 years after going back to a day job (and now retired), my sleep schedule is still broken.
I fully understand, as I find that I'm not a great sleeper, either, and I'm in the same situation you are.....
Did not enjoy it and I need a sleeping pill to actually get some sleep before work, and then I would spend the whole day feeling hung over. Same for working early mornings, I need a sleeping pill to go to bed early and wake up early. If I didn’t take a pill, I would get either 2-3 hours sleep or just stay awake with zero and be dying.
I do best in the afternoon/early evening hours.
The worst part were the gardeners who come by our community and wake me up during the day when I need to sleep. Sometimes they would come before 7am and stay past 4pm making lots of noise!! I was tempted more than once to go out there and scream at them.
Do miss working nights sometimes maybe that's my introvert self coming out
If circumstances proved to be right would work nights again. Slept maybe 2 to 4 hours before a night shift was always drained. Lived off caffeine. Gained weight due to eating to stay awake and less exercise.
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