Thread: Shift work

I've been working various shift systems for a few years now, ever since the construction industry in Ireland went belly up.
I'm currently working in an auto parts factory doing a variation of continental shifts with no weekend work (except overtime which is well compensated). It's by far the best shift system I've worked but coming off nightshift mode is still really difficult and I'm like a grumpy bear at times.
Any other members work shifts?
How do you adjust from night mode to days?

Worked shifts almost my entire working life and never really got the hang of that adjustment, it is just not natural. The last 30 years was 4 on (2/12hr days-2/12hr nights) 4 off 24/7/365 operation. Been retired for 5 years and still can't sleep right, still grumpy too. Hope you find a way.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Worked shifts almost my entire working life and never really got the hang of that adjustment, it is just not natural. The last 30 years was 4 on (2/12hr days-2/12hr nights) 4 off 24/7/365 operation. Been retired for 5 years and still can't sleep right, still grumpy too. Hope you find a way.

Bob

My last job we worked 4 days on 4 off then 4 nights on 4 off. It was a killer for coming off after 4 nights and tough on the family/social life.
They tried to put us on the shift you were on but there was a lot of resistance to chance and it never happened.
My new job I never have to work more than 3 nights in a row and it's much easier to come off.
But I don't think there's ever an easy way to come off them.
The sunshine helps a lot but here in Ireland that's a rare sight lol

Yea, know what you mean by sunshine helping. Here for about 3 months in winter it is dark when you go in to work and when you come home when on 12hr 7 to 7 shifts. Day shift or night shift did not matter, it was dark. Felt like a mole emerging from the ground on days off.

When I started it was worse. We were on 8hr shifts alright but 7 days in a row/2 days off, then 7 4-12s in a row/2 days off, then 7 midnights/3 days off, repeat. You never had 3 days really because you lost 1/2 a day the first day sleeping. What a grind that was and we had to fight the old guys who were dead set against trying 12hr shifts 4 on 4 off. Ah the good old days, how I miss them, NOT. I swear shift work took a couple of years off my life expectancy.

Bob

I worked shift work about from march 1969 to jan 1973 since construction until 1982. From 1982 until 2013 I was a heavy equipment mechanic and repair welder for scrap comp and steel mill. went to work before daylight and got home way after dark for 31 years. a lot of 16 hr days and 6-7 day work weeks. I've been retired since 2013 and the odd thing is I MISS IT.

Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, know what you mean by sunshine helping. Here for about 3 months in winter it is dark when you go in to work and when you come home when on 12hr 7 to 7 shifts. Day shift or night shift did not matter, it was dark. Felt like a mole emerging from the ground on days off.

When I started it was worse. We were on 8hr shifts alright but 7 days in a row/2 days off, then 7 4-12s in a row/2 days off, then 7 midnights/3 days off, repeat. You never had 3 days really because you lost 1/2 a day the first day sleeping. What a grind that was and we had to fight the old guys who were dead set against trying 12hr shifts 4 on 4 off. Ah the good old days, how I miss them, NOT. I swear shift work took a couple of years off my life expectancy.

Bob

It has be proven to shorten your life expectancy and also to slow you brain function to that of someone 7 years older than you.
But it pays better than any 9-5 mon-fri job I could get so not much else for it.
To be honest I don't know if I could a normal working week anymore

All way to familiar with shift work, been doing it for 26 years, 12 hours shifts, 4 on 4 off, 3 on 3 off, nights and days. I like it, i am used to it, never had a problem sleeping during the day, but met many that do.

Its all about finding a routine that works for you.

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

It has be proven to shorten your life expectancy and also to slow you brain function to that of someone 7 years older than you.

Yup, I resemble that person for sure.

Bob

Originally Posted by Martin103

All way to familiar with shift work, been doing it for 26 years, 12 hours shifts, 4 on 4 off, 3 on 3 off, nights and days. I like it, i am used to it, never had a problem sleeping during the day, but met many that do.

Its all about finding a routine that works for you.

I've never had a problem sleeping during the day myself.
The problem is when you finish the last night of nightshift you have 3 choices
1: take a full sleep (6-8 hours) but you won't be able to sleep that night and your sleep pattern is screwed up.
2: take 3-4 hours sleep, you should be able to sleep that night but you'll feel awful all day.
3: Stay up all day, really hard to do for the first few days but eventually you body gives up telling you to sleep.

I used to do 3 all the time because every time I attempted 2 I'd do 3 lol
I'm mostly doing 2 at the minute because my wife is off on maternity leave and we'd fall out if I was up all day, plus she's there to make sure I don't sleep in.
Don't think there's any good way to do it. Just have to tough it out

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

I've never had a problem sleeping during the day myself.
The problem is when you finish the last night of nightshift you have 3 choices
1: take a full sleep (6-8 hours) but you won't be able to sleep that night and your sleep pattern is screwed up.
2: take 3-4 hours sleep, you should be able to sleep that night but you'll feel awful all day.
3: Stay up all day, really hard to do for the first few days but eventually you body gives up telling you to sleep.

I used to do 3 all the time because every time I attempted 2 I'd do 3 lol
I'm mostly doing 2 at the minute because my wife is off on maternity leave and we'd fall out if I was up all day, plus she's there to make sure I don't sleep in.
Don't think there's any good way to do it. Just have to tough it out

I don't know about other folks but when I was working and got off and had to go to sleep fast rest good and get up and get after it again . Well there's nothing like a little brown pill. ambin. better living through chemistry.