Anyone on nights?

I work nights, looking for friends to share experiences and challenges with while on a night shift. I am on 12 hour rotations.
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Replies

  • 86toronado
    86toronado Posts: 19
    I am!! 12 hour nights too. Are you a nurse?
    I'm always on here in the middle of the night, it's nice to have someone to talk to at that time...:smooched: :smile:
  • I am currently a 911 dispatcher. I am going to school and declared my major for nursing but not sure if I want to go that route yet. I have years to figure it out at the rate I am going.
  • kzakian
    kzakian Posts: 45 Member
    Hi! Im on at nights because I have terrible sleeping habits. Nice to meet you :)
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    3rd shift 911 dispatcher here also! Represent!
  • I also have bad sleeping habits, sometimes I think I hibernate if I work overtime and get off because my first day off is wasted on sleep.
  • lilbearzmom
    lilbearzmom Posts: 600 Member
    I have worked 3rd shifts for most of the past 3 years- taken a little break lately but I'm a newly graduated Registered Respiratory Therapist and will probably/hopefully be going back to working nights. I actually enjoy it and adjusted to it quite well.
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    Thankfully, my place of employment doesn't do 12 hour shifts. We're 8 hours, with a lot of chances to get forced OT with little or no notice, though.

    How do your 12 hour shifts work? Do you get a good amount of days off for your weekend?
  • dougt333
    dougt333 Posts: 697
    Half my week is days the other half 12 hour nights, switching off on the intermediate fasting is a pain.
  • 86toronado
    86toronado Posts: 19
    I love my 12 hour shifts! I only have to work three nights a week this way, and end up getting 4 days in a row off every other weekend. That does wreck havoc on my diet, though. I actually find that I am more disciplined on the days that I work, because I have to have a plan, or I end up going hours without eating! But on my days off, morning becomes night, and vice-versa, making it hard to stick to any kind of a plan.
    That's why I've been doing low (ish) carb. I don't have to plan that well :)
  • i work nights too
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    That's the reason I maintain my 3rd shift hours on my days off. Though, I can see that being difficult on 12 hour days and especially with 4 days off in between. That sounds rough!
  • magrieve78
    magrieve78 Posts: 9 Member
    911 dispatcher here, too. I work a 10 day rotating shift. 2 of each shift, then 4 days off, repeat. Makes exercise routine a littlev tricky at times. But i'm determined, so i make it happen. 3rd shift munchies are the worst part. Always have to save sacaloriessome calories and pack lots of fruit!
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    911 dispatcher here, too. I work a 10 day rotating shift. 2 of each shift, then 4 days off, repeat. Makes exercise routine a littlev tricky at times. But i'm determined, so i make it happen. 3rd shift munchies are the worst part. Always have to save sacaloriessome calories and pack lots of fruit!

    That sounds like the worst shift EVER.
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    I love my 12 hour shifts! I only have to work three nights a week this way, and end up getting 4 days in a row off every other weekend. That does wreck havoc on my diet, though. I actually find that I am more disciplined on the days that I work, because I have to have a plan, or I end up going hours without eating! But on my days off, morning becomes night, and vice-versa, making it hard to stick to any kind of a plan.
    That's why I've been doing low (ish) carb. I don't have to plan that well :)

    Another question: how do you make up those extra 4 hours? That's only 36 hours per week. Or do they just only pay you for the 36 hours? My agency was considering doing this.
  • I'm nights!!
  • jennpaulson
    jennpaulson Posts: 850 Member
    Hi, I'm emergency dispatch for state highway and have worked overnights for the better part of the past 17 years. I work 10pm-6am Sunday-Thursday. I don't know how any of y'all do the rotating swing shifts that y'all do.
  • impudentputz
    impudentputz Posts: 479 Member
    10-6am here. Boring most of the time.

    Tonight I built a tower out of bic pens... yep, mommy is proud of her little boy! (Side note, the tower was about a foot and a half tall... rather impressed really)
  • I work the night shift at a hotel.
  • christyb77
    christyb77 Posts: 30 Member
    Nights here! 2330-0730 Industrial EMT................ I have horrible sleeping habits, when I am off i wanna eat EVERYTHING! I don't rest good. I am REALLY wanting to get my nursing but how do you find the time working this shift?
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    You're right, Christy. It is SO hard to stay on track on this shift.
  • jennpaulson
    jennpaulson Posts: 850 Member
    You're both right! That's why I keep lots of fruits and salad mix always on hand, plus I bake chicken at the beginning of the week so that I have it to add to salad or broccoli throughout the week. I also don't run errands when I'm hungry, that way fast food isn't so tempting. Not that there's anything wrong with fast food, just that it doesn't fill me up and uses up so many of my calories for the day.
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    How about Boogie Nights?
  • leavingofliverpool
    leavingofliverpool Posts: 27 Member
    Do 4 x 10 hour nights from 9pm to 7am in a largely deserted office. Listen to music on youtube and go for a mad running sprint as fast as i can round the block outside at 3am every morning. You would be surprised how it wakes you up for the last few hours. (and burns a few carbs too).
  • BigDoug13
    BigDoug13 Posts: 646 Member
    I am not on nights, but I live in Germany...does that work? Add me!
  • christyb77
    christyb77 Posts: 30 Member
    I HAVE BEEN ON NIGHTS FOR 6 YEARS AND MY HEALTH IS SLOWELY DECLINING... I AM ALWAYS TIRED
  • Calaniman
    Calaniman Posts: 2 Member
    I live in Asia so I'll always be on nights assuming you live in North America, feel free to add me as well. Trying to get from 210lbs to 145lbs, was 225lbs at my heaviest. Down to 185 now and trying to learn to live and eat healthy on a different continent.
  • loserintraining
    loserintraining Posts: 11 Member
    I am currently a 911 dispatcher. I am going to school and declared my major for nursing but not sure if I want to go that route yet. I have years to figure it out at the rate I am going.

    HI!! I am a 911 dispatcher too and currently on nights!
  • BonnieandClyde29
    BonnieandClyde29 Posts: 1,026 Member
    Night shifter right here! Nothing cool, just a night auditor at a timeshare resort...haven't done this shift in 2-3 years, ughhh must sleep!!! lol
  • Terra_Incognita
    Terra_Incognita Posts: 1,465 Member
    Heya night shifters. I'm in the intensive care unit tonight working 7p-7a . I'm about to break out my NROLFW book and read. Shoot me a message. It's not too bad tonight. I typed that so it doesn't count for the supersticiously inclined:)
  • Territravel
    Territravel Posts: 165 Member
    Another Midnight shifter here! I'm in the travel department for FedEx. Currently working 8pm-7am. This shift will mess with your health and your diet. Eleven years and 70 pounds later, I can testify!

    I now bring all my snacks and stay away from the vending machines. Also use my lunch time to walk inside/outside on the nights I work. And off days I get to enjoy classes at the gym. My hat is off to all those who can work this shift, and still eat healthy and get enough exercise!