Where are my fellow night owls/third shifters?

[BGIF]

What's up? Chronic insomniac here. I stayed up to 6:30am last night just because. Wanna trade?

I hear you.

Insomnia is a terrible thing to waste.

 

[Quinntastic]

What's up? Chronic insomniac here. I stayed up to 6:30am last night just because. Wanna trade?

My instinct says not to trade BUT...

I am physically holding my eyelids open right now, so pass some of that shit over here please!!

 

[MNIrishman]

Well, as long as you're by a computer, we can chat about MI, my new home for a few years. What do you like about this state? I've decided that MI is really two states. There's Dumpland, which extends from Lansing to Detroit and encompasses Jackson and Flint---and Awesomesauce, which includes the western shore, northern MI, and the UP. Dumpland sucks donkey balls and I kind of wish it would all catch on fire so maybe something interesting could grow. Love me some Awesomesauce though.

 

[Quinntastic]

Haha, I have lived in Michigan my entire life. You have summed it up very accurately. I grew up in Traverse City and now live in Grand Rapids. I am guessing that you live over in dumpland? What brings you to Michigan? It can't possibly be a job: our economy sucks.

 

[ulukinatme]

Tonight is my first night attempting to stay up all night.

So far I have fallen asleep from 9:30pm-11pm and I have been barely able to stay awake since.

This is going to be a touch harder than I thought...

First week or two can be hard, but you'll adjust eventually. The key is to stick to the schedule and try not to deviate! Dark curtains for the bedroom are a must, and try not to oversleep as it can really screw with the schedule.

 

[Quinntastic]

I have an amazing eyemask that I absolutely swear by and a pair of ear plugs. During the summer when my son will actually be home during the day I will probably switch to a fan for white noise - to drown out most of the noise but will still allow me to hear if something catastrophic happens...

 

[MNIrishman]

Haha, I have lived in Michigan my entire life. You have summed it up very accurately. I grew up in Traverse City and now live in Grand Rapids. I am guessing that you live over in dumpland? What brings you to Michigan? It can't possibly be a job: our economy sucks.

Fiancee's job. I'm biding my time until I can escape. You're right about the no jobs thing. There are a few in A2/Detroit, but damn. I don't know what happened, but Lansing seems like it gave up on city planning around 1980. The parking meters don't even take cards. It's like living in a third world oasis.

 

[Johannes]

Well, as long as you're by a computer, we can chat about MI, my new home for a few years. What do you like about this state? I've decided that MI is really two states. There's Dumpland, which extends from Lansing to Detroit and encompasses Jackson and Flint---and Awesomesauce, which includes the western shore, northern MI, and the UP. Dumpland sucks donkey balls and I kind of wish it would all catch on fire so maybe something interesting could grow. Love me some Awesomesauce though.

Hilarious! As a lifelong Michigan resident and proud Awesomesaucer, I could not agree more. Dumpland, haha.

I work in a union setting. Seniority forced me to night shift last fall, and it looks like I will remain on nights for at least another year. I've worked nights before in college, so I was able to adjust alright. I would much rather be on days for the summertime, though, as the schedule is a real drag on my socialite lifestyle.

My biggest advice: stay on your sleep schedule on your days off and use melatonin (wisely) when you just have to sleep but need help getting there. I never take melatonin if I am going to sleep fewer than 6 hours, though. I've found it takes forever to lose the groggy feeling afterwards if I do.

This summer I may invest in some blackout curtains...

 

[Quinntastic]

Fiancee's job. I'm biding my time until I can escape. You're right about the no jobs thing. There are a few in A2/Detroit, but damn. I don't know what happened, but Lansing seems like it gave up on city planning around 1980. The parking meters don't even take cards. It's like living in a third world oasis.

Not very often do I literally "lol" when I write "lol", but this is one of those times: lol

Seriously, though, GTFO of Detroit. It is the worst. Though the MGM on New year's eve is pretty friggin cool.

1:40 am and still awake. I feel like I can maybe do this. Going to go pop some blueberry muffins in the oven for a delicious 2:30 am snack.

And Johannes - first practice is Wednesday at 8 - I am expecting you to show up!

 

[Johannes]

I just made bacon. Blueberry muffins are fine, too, I guess.

Sorry Quinn! If the weather holds, I have tennis plans for Wednesday. grin:

Just found out yesterday that Logan's Alley will be sponsoring our team this year! Booya, free softball!

 

[Quinntastic]

Lucky ass duck! Even with my employer sponsoring it is still costing me $20. Pbbbbth

 

[Sureal]

Third Shift Mobb! IT service desk all night

 

[Quinntastic]

Any advice for me? I was doing really well there for awhile but now I have eaten a huge blueberry muffin and now I'm feeling sleepy!!

 

[Sureal]

I have been doing third shift for about 4 years now either at the hospital or at the IT desk here. My advice is to not eat junk food at night and make time to go the gym during the day. Sleep as much as you possibly can. If you have family they will have to understand that you are going to be a caveman for x amount of days.

Dark curtains, I can't tell you enough. Keep your room dark as hell during the day so you can sleep better.

 

[Sureal]

You are going to have to do coffee as well. NO JUNK FOOD DUDE...I have seen dudes gain like a body in a short amount of time. Small cups of coffee not too much that will screw up your sleep in the morning

 

[Quinntastic]

*is a girl*

but I love the advice! I wonder if blueberry muffins count as junk...

 

[edgesofsanity]

I have been doing third shift for about 4 years now either at the hospital or at the IT desk here. My advice is to not eat junk food at night and make time to go the gym during the day. Sleep as much as you possibly can. If you have family they will have to understand that you are going to be a caveman for x amount of days.

Dark curtains, I can't tell you enough. Keep your room dark as hell during the day so you can sleep better.

To echo this: go to the gym after work - find a 24 hour gym; no one is there that early so no wait, and you'll still be tired enough afterwards to go to sleep.

And prioritize sleep - it is now an important hobby in your life, and deserves a high place in it.

 

[ulukinatme]

Bring a laptop and play video games all night, that's what I did It keeps your interest anyway, helped keep me awake when there wasn't much to do. As you can see I still miss the 3rd shift lifestyle. It's 3 am and I'm supposed to be up working in 5 hours.

 

[Quinntastic]

Yikes! At least I will be fast asleep at that time. I am already at the point where my eyes don't want to stay open. Hoping to make it to at least 5 am...

 

[Johannes]

To echo this: go to the gym after work - find a 24 hour gym; no one is there that early so no wait, and you'll still be tired enough afterwards to go to sleep.

And prioritize sleep - it is now an important hobby in your life, and deserves a high place in it.

I definitely agree with prioritizing exercise and sleep. I've personally found that exercising after work makes it difficult to fall asleep for several hours afterwards, so I usually do so when I wake up. Grocery shopping on the other hand? Always after work. Welcome to the wonderful world of no lines and having the store to yourself.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Nightshifters rule!

I can have a beer at 0830 and nobody can judge me for it.

 

[Sureal]

Whoops Quinntastic: Dudette...

 

[Irish#1]

Back in my early twenties, both my wife and I worked in the same data center of a bank. We worked three 12 hours days 8PM - 8AM. Since the Saturday staff did half the weekend work, we usually got off a couple of hours early Monday morning. We got two 1 hour breaks per day so our total work time was about 30 hours a week. There were several times we got off at 8AM Wednesday morning and headed to Florida for three days.

 

[MNIrishman]

I see your night shift and raise you eternal wakefulness... Good morning!

 

[ThePiombino]

I'm joining the shift of the living dead starting Monday night. Who else here keeps those hours? I'm going to need SOMEONE to talk to, ya'll! But hey, an extra $1.30/hr (not to mention an additional $1/hr on top of THAT if it's also a weekend) makes it pretty much worth it.

I'm an overnighter. The issue, for me, is not the hours in and of themselves. The issue is how this shift affects the rest of my life. Sure, I may be off for a given event, but I then have to decide do I A) miss said event and get the sleep I need or B) skip the sleep I need and attend said event. Either way, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. I guess the differential helps, but 15% can only do so much for my social life lol

 

[ulukinatme]

I definitely agree with prioritizing exercise and sleep. I've personally found that exercising after work makes it difficult to fall asleep for several hours afterwards, so I usually do so when I wake up. Grocery shopping on the other hand? Always after work. Welcome to the wonderful world of no lines and having the store to yourself.

Same. I tried working out after work, but it left me with energy that prevented me from sleeping. Much easier to work out before work in those cases if you're going to do it. Amen to the lack of lines at stores, it's one of the benefits of working night shift.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Back in my early twenties, both my wife and I worked in the same data center of a bank. We worked three 12 hours days 8PM - 8AM. Since the Saturday staff did half the weekend work, we usually got off a couple of hours early Monday morning. We got two 1 hour breaks per day so our total work time was about 30 hours a week. There were several times we got off at 8AM Wednesday morning and headed to Florida for three days.

I'm lucky enough to work at a hospital that lets us self-schedule our 3-12hr shifts. If I work the first 3 days of the first week and the last 3 days of the second week, I get 8 days off at a time and never miss a day. It's really sweet for 5-6 day quick getaways now and then.

 

[Quinntastic]

First night working thirds. Two hours into my ten hour shift and I feel dead on my feet. I have a caffeine pill...hopefully it will keep me going. Otherwise I have an awful stomach ache that I am almost positive is due to lack of sleep...I have been awake since 9:30 am this morning and my next chance at sleep isn't until 7:30 am tomorrow morning...

 

[Jackalope1977]

First night working thirds. Two hours into my ten hour shift and I feel dead on my feet. I have a caffeine pill...hopefully it will keep me going. Otherwise I have an awful stomach ache that I am almost positive is due to lack of sleep...I have been awake since 9:30 am this morning and my next chance at sleep isn't until 7:30 am tomorrow morning...

Sounds familiar. Maybe I missed something but uh.... coffee? Screw that pill. When I'm on nights I get up around 1 or 2, drink water and eat "breakfast". After dinner I start drinking coffee. After that I'm good most of the night. Figure out when you need to stop drinking coffee so a) you can go to sleep when you get out, and b) you wont have to get up to pee a million times. Staying up after night shift is for suckers!! GO TO BED!!

 

[Catholics_Rule]

I used to do over nights at a previous employer when I was in college. Sometimes it wasn't bad but other times it really took its toll. I also was a working musician for years and years. I would go to school Tuesday-Friday, work 6am-6pm Saturday-Monday, then play drums on Friday and Saturday nites. There were times when I would get a half hour sleep before getting up at 5am for work. Looking back, I have no idea how I did.