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Working the late shift...

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Most of the advice you have gotten is good so far. I worked two summers while in college on overnights. The making the room as dark and quiet as possible is the best advice. Everything else, just try and see how your body reacts. Somethings may work for you others may not.

And for the most part your commute should be easier since you will mainly be going against the flow of traffic :)
 
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DGADBTWSOM;1190672; said:
I'm starting a new job on Monday, going from an office temp job to a late night to early morning (5pm-5am), anyone have any experience with this and have some advice on how to stay awake or getting used to this type of schedule?
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Caffeine helps, but there is a point to which it will stop helping you out. With it being a 12 hour shift and all that, I'd suggest finding a way to keep yourself awake, like taking a walk if things are slow to studying to whatever you can handle.

I was on mids for 6 of the last 8 years including most of the year I was in Iraq. Caffeine stopped working at about year 2 :biggrin:

Also, try to sleep as soon as you get home. While you could stay up and do some stuff (although not at 5AM), it's just easier that way. You'll be getting up when everyone else is getting off of work essentially.

Remember to eat well too. I found myself eating a ton of junk food. That will help you stay awake too actually. Less grease and all that....
 
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buckeyefool;1191348; said:
Most of the advice you have gotten is good so far. I worked two summers while in college on overnights. The making the room as dark and quiet as possible is the best advice. Everything else, just try and see how your body reacts. Somethings may work for you others may not.

And for the most part your commute should be easier since you will mainly be going against the flow of traffic :)
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definitely true! i always get a seat on the subway. on the occasional times i take the subway out of the city during rush hour it reminds me why i like working the night shift.
 
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Taosman;1191071; said:
When you get home in the morning, don't over eat or stay up watching tv/internet. Very important to try to get sunshine on your days off. Don't doddle in bed on off days. Get exercise whenever you can. Stay away from caffeine. Eat quality food. Shoot the neighbor's dog(just kidding). Ear plugs/eye shades. Realize that you don't need to do this forever(there is always a better job). Watch for signs of depression. Have lots of sex! :tongue2:
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Shut up.
 
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I hope all is going well with the new job!!!!

As for the late shift hours, I recall, I had this young college student that would go to bed as the house was waking up... maybe it's just time to get back to those hours. :biggrin:

Seriously, additional caffeine isn't an option for you. Focus on eating healthy foods, definitely pack some food high in proteins (trail mix, almonds, turkey sammiches, things like that) and plan on drinking lots of water and juices. A multi-vitamin wouldn't hurt you either.

BKB used to work 3rds, I only did it for a short time though. Remember, take the phone off the hook or turn the ringer off, lots of companies make calls during the day.
 
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BuckeyeRyn;1191833; said:
I hope all is going well with the new job!!!!

As for the late shift hours, I recall, I had this young college student that would go to bed as the house was waking up... maybe it's just time to get back to those hours. :biggrin:

Seriously, additional caffeine isn't an option for you. Focus on eating healthy foods, definitely pack some food high in proteins (trail mix, almonds, turkey sammiches, things like that) and plan on drinking lots of water and juices. A multi-vitamin wouldn't hurt you either.

BKB used to work 3rds, I only did it for a short time though. Remember, take the phone off the hook or turn the ringer off, lots of companies make calls during the day.
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I start on monday. I train in the morning shift for the first couple weeks then on the the graveyard. Still seems like a good deal as I sit in this cubical at my last week as a temp for a collection agency, otherwise known as Satan's Balls.

I don't know what happened to that college kid. hopfully I can find him again.

The health impact does concern me a bit. how does one eat right working this shift, I can only eat so many turkey sammiches. I'll pick up some multi-vitamins this weekend.

luckily I can black out the bedroom easily and hope I can get on a decent sleeping schedule.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.
 
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Originally Posted by Taosman
When you get home in the morning, don't over eat or stay up watching tv/internet. Very important to try to get sunshine on your days off. Don't doddle in bed on off days. Get exercise whenever you can. Stay away from caffeine. Eat quality food. Shoot the neighbor's dog(just kidding). Ear plugs/eye shades. Realize that you don't need to do this forever(there is always a better job). Watch for signs of depression. Have lots of sex!
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We have a few 3rd shifters working in our office at night, 24/7 software support. Unfortunately we just lost one of them...young guy, just turned 21, had only been working with us about 9 months, took his own life.

Not trying to be negative here, just saying to watch out. The investigation seemed to point to outside work problems, but they don't know if it was just personal issues or the hours helped magnify his problems. I've worked the 3rd shift a few times and rather liked it. Didn't work it permanently because it started during the only hours I could see the gf. Just do your sleeping when you would be working, and do your working when you would be sleeping. Think of it as a switch and nothing more, it makes it easier. The plus side is if you need to see a doctor, or make any other appointments/errands you will have little problem making any of them since you wouldn't be in the office from 8-5.

On the plus note, theres not really any big wigs standing over you on a 3r shift, most of our guys take cat naps and watch DVDs while they work. If you can't take cat naps, they've found that exercise helps. One guy even has some kind of...workout device in his cube, some kind of strength training thing.
 
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Overdose on Vitamin C - that is, take like 5000mg when you go to work. It'll keep you awake, but you won't have the caffeine crash (which you'll have to time correctly if you want to have some kind of 'normal' schedule) Oh, and your piss will be neon colored.

When I did 3rds, I didn't start til 11:00p (worked 11p to 7a) so I would basically move may day forward by about 8 hours, and treat it as if I worked second shift. So, I'd get home at 7:15a, go to bed, sleep while the rest of the world worked. Wake at 3:00 ish, do "normal" stuff til work at 11 - worked while everyone else slept.

On my last day of the week, I would stay awake until "normal" bed time.... meaning get home at 7:15a and not go to bed until 11p that night. Gives you an extra day off, more or less.
 
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