F49
Life as a Shift-worker
March 16 2013
Comments
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RHP User
12 years ago
SHOULD READ..."What do you DO to find "that balance" being a shit-worker?""What can you say to others who have not done shift-work before to really understand what we go through?"
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RHP User
12 years ago
at odd hours can really do your body clock a smack in the proverbials ... I try to make a light meal before bedtime.... Mike
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RHP User
12 years ago
Foxie, I completely understand where you are coming from. I am the Mr in this couple and have done shiftwork for years now. It brought about the downfall of my marriage and has ruined plenty of relationships as non shifties dont understand. I try and find the balance by making the most of the me time when I get it - go see a movie, sneak off to the pub for a few quiet ones with the alco regulars, but mainly enjoy the positives of the lifestyle shops are quiet, gym is quiet and always be upfront with new friends that I may not be able to attend every function they invite me to. In my relationship we try and arrange days together for after my nightshifts, plan date nights and dont care if it tuesday night still go out and make the most of it, but ensure that if things are getting rough due to not seeing each other communicate and let the other know how we feel. Also I guess I make use of a regular mental health day and just go chill out lay in the sun at the beach and relax. JAM
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RHP User
12 years ago
However I start anywhere between 4-6am and finish early. And Ive done the afternoon 2-midnight shift as well. So I empathise a little. Most dont understand that because youre finishing at an awful hour of the day or night you cant just go straight to bed and sleep. I used to get many people say 'surely you go to bed when you get home?' (especially when I was finishing at midnight plus) to those I replied 'do you go to bed as son as you finish work at 5pm?'. Kind of opened their eyes a little. Then theres the flip side of people not understanding that because youre starting at 4am you kind of dont want to be out until 10pm on a 'school night'. You just want to be relaxing and in bed by that hour, which to some is too early for bed. Theyre usually the ones getting up at 7am for a 9am start. My current position has me starting at the 4-6am. So for me I try not to have a nap when I get home. I also dont meet any one during the week if I can help it (well not anyone new anyway), not a lot of alcohol being drunk during the week, and I have my main meal in the middle of the day so that if I do end up having an early night then at least Im not sleeping on a full stomach - which never works out well for me. But, like you Superfox, I am likely every few weeks to just die early on a Friday night and sleep for 12 hours at least. exactly what I did last night. Ready for my weekend now. Kisses Focus
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RHP User
12 years ago
7am-7pm (days) and 7pm-7am (nights)..very long shifts...12 hrs shifts with 1hr travel each way- so makes a 14hr working shift.However I work a 80hr ROTATION Roster per Fortnight so only ever work 6x12hrs shifts and 1x8hr shift - so plenty of days off which is fantastic so that's a plus.Most of the time my first day off is a write off..normally come off night shift which is a bummer.Most of my Meet and Greets are done on my days off.Foxy
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RHP User
12 years ago
I'm sure you're not a shit-worker. Yes, I know it's meant to say shift-worker but it's right up there as the funniest typo I've seen lately. ;-)I did a bit of shift work when I was younger. I found it impossible to adjust to the odd hours. I'd be all revved up when I got home and would find it next to impossible to sleep. Interuptions by people on normal woking hours made things really difficult too. Being out of sync with shopping hours back the didn't help either. As a door knocker more recently I would see do-not-disturb signs put up by shift-workers and really appreciate where they were coming from. Luckily the opening hours for shops have caught up with the times some, can't wait for the opening hours for government departments and banks to catch up!Peachy
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RHP User
12 years ago
Especially if you are interested in playing with people that are non shift workers. We have been shift workers since 1981, in a previous occupation and even now in our own business. Mrs works nights and i work days, she prefers nights, we have it worked out that we get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off together and the rest of the world gets Saturday and Sundays off. Makes it very hard to connect if you know what i mean.
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RHP User
12 years ago
They were always the bane of my life when I did shift working. I did enjoy days off during the week, great going places and not putting up with the maddening crush.Shift workers do seem to gravitate towards each other that's for sure, nothing better sex after lunch at a riverside restaurant
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Cheekyarses
12 years ago
Mr cheeky is a shift worker n if you can manage your time work n play can wk
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RHP User
12 years ago
I worked in the Hospitality Industry for a long time . Weekends & NightShifts . I've finally found a job Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm . I'm a.single parent of a 15 year old Son . Now I have more time for him and more time to pursue my Trivial Pursuits . My time off is Sacred to me & I always make time for Me. For me to Function properly and fulfil my Responsibilities , I must be Happy Sometimes , my Schedule makes it hard for me to arrange Meets , but I'm not in a rush ... No matter what our Routine is , we should always make Time for US! SuperFox , perhaps your aches & pains mean you're gettin' Old like me ;) & when you said "Shit-Worker" I assumed it was a Pun;) GG♒- Posted from rhpmobile
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tomrach79
12 years ago
We are both shift workers and completely get where you are coming from. Drinks at 7am sounds outrageous to most, but to us shift workers, it's Devine. I think we learn to live off less sleep. If you expect to sleep as much as 9 to fivers you miss too much. Accept those black circles we have grown to love! We work very random shifts so its impossible to get into a routine. A great benefit is having weekdays to get things done that others have to cram into a weekend. There's more action at night so work can be a little more exciting. The days off are a bonus but generally means we spend them with other shift workers. The rare weekends off we spend with the 9 to fivers. You sound a lot like an ambo super fox... ;)
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RHP User
12 years ago
I've done my fair share of shift work and I find you can't beat the quick power nap before a shift,sometimes half an hour to an hour makes a huge difference. I'm now on a 14/7 roster usually 1week days 1 week nights of 12 hr shifts and then travel home which is sometimes a day on its own, I never have plans for the next day but the phone gets turned off and do not disturb sign goes up I don't think you can ever get used to it I think i more like cope with it- Posted from rhpmobile
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RHP User
12 years ago
Been doing shift work in television for 5 years. I don't actually mind it too much. It's the 7 day working weeks that get to me.That and changing from a few weeks of over nights then into early mornings. I do love my 5 and 6 day breaks ever couple of weeks though.
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RHP User
12 years ago
Yes, I have to agree with SuperFox. Having just started afternoon shirt (2-10pm), am still getting my body adjusting after months of normal day shift. Communicating with family and friends can be difficult in the morning, especially when everyone is getting ready for work and such, but it can be done. It is just a matter of finding the right time. Quick little messages during the day can mean so much. I know it does to me and puts a smile on my face and I hope mine do the same. The other big one is your body clock. When you do get home, you normally need to unwind and sometimes this can take a few hours. Once you get used to it, though, it is just like working normal hours. Just takes a bit of getting used to.
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RHP User
12 years ago
work can be a bit of an obstacle to "romance" if the other person works in a diferent area or shift rotation to you tho... I am trying to catch up with a woman I am interested in, and finding her at a good time and asking her anything is a pain... Mike
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RHP User
12 years ago
We sh*t - workers (pun) do have a lot in common - the "understanding" that meeting people is really hard work!!LOL We do work sh*t shifts tho... :)I think people who have never done shift-work can not possibly understand what we go through, our family, social lives and our bodies.I believe it is true what (Vag) made the comment about shift-workers tend to gravitate towards each other. Most of my inner circle of friends are shift workers actually now I think about it - They all are and "day" session after a luncheon is really really healthy..LOL* The balance of a social lives - we can't attend gatherings and meet and greets unless it is planned and ahead - sometimes it good to be spontaneous and other times I find it really difficult as some people want me to just jump when they want to see me and I can't just do that sometimes - as a single parent and shift-working, most times it works but I am sure people do get turned off by that. * Sleep Patterns get out of wack - I really don't think some people who don't shift work get that nor do they understand when our bodies are exhausted it means we are effin exhausted and we need sleep, rest our brains and emotional health!! LOL We do want to just go to bed and sleep does not mean we go to our beds all the time to have sex - that's great to do to but hey I'd be f*cked if that was the case, my body would just die if that was the case!!! It's not all bad being a shift-worker I see so much good in doing it...the odd hours means the time apart from "partner", to me that means bring on the wanting..LOL..Sometimes I really enjoy time by myself as I enjoy my own company and don't mind that at all. The money is great getting penalties and get heaps of time off. I have just come off 8 RDO's which is like a weeks leave..lol I also like that my shifts vary not stuck in the same boring routine. I also think we cope a lot better with stress and we deal with it a lot better...our coping skills are right up there compared to those who don't shift-work.I think the main key to being a shift-worker is making sure the BALANCE is right and listening to our bodies and making sure our Mental Health is really really healthy.CHEERS *clinking glasses* to all those who sh*t-work!! I don't think we get enough credit for being being shift workers .FOXYPS- LOL not am Ambo but in a (Govt) "supporting" role, dealing with humans that have High behavioris.
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RHP User
12 years ago
Your messages give smiles. Trust me xx- Posted from rhpmobile
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RHP User
12 years ago
its difficult...but not impossible... i do a 4 on/4 off roster.....so tho i am home 5 days in 8.....i lose 6 out of 8 weekends to work in some way...either a 12 hr day, or night......overtime, of which there is a huge amount, is in 12 hour lots...no staying back or going early...we get extra days n nights... all at double time.....3 of the 4 days of easter are at double time and a half for me....'kaching'...lol. Shel works the arvo shift mon to fri....so shes not home til nearly midinght from monday to friday....means some blocks we dont share an evening meal from one fortinght to the next...but we manage we squeeze each other, family, friends, chores and play....in on those rare weekends we are free... means busy days/nights....but its worth it....
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RHP User
12 years ago
Done night shift for 10 years and you never get used to it. Unless someone does it they have no idea. Just getting a nap through the day is nothing like a full night sleep . I believe you never get back the sleep u loose. But the way I look at it, I am awake more than others so I get to enjoy the world and life more..lol Leesa xx
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RHP User
12 years ago
I did shift-work for one full year before uni and four months of it was 12 hour x 5 days a week while the rest varied 40-50 hours a week with one-two graveyard shifts per week. All I did was go home, take a shower, eat and go to sleep until the next shift. I think it's something that is okay to do for a short while like I did, just because the pay was quite good and it was easy to save a lot of money, but it definitely isn't normal. Doing it long-term can't be healthy, especially if you aren't sleeping properly.
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subgal_gc
12 years ago
Yep Foxy I know exactly where you are coming from having worked shift work for a number of years in my previous job. At times I struggled with the lack of sleep and adjusting to the lack of routine (back in the early days of my job)... On one occasion I even fell asleep in the car on the way home when I stopped at a red light... Not a good look. I have lived with other shift workers in Nurses Quarters in years gone by... and can tell you not all shift workers are considerate of others in the same situation. The amount of times I was woken during the day (while on night shift) by other nurses, or by them coming home from the pub at 2-3 in the morning carrying on at the top of their voice when I was doing a late/early showed complete lack of consideration for those in the same situation. And it can play havoc with relationships (and friendships) with the non shift workers. I have had a few fall apart due to them not understanding that I was tired or not always able to go out partying on a Friday or Sat night...and especially big nights like NYE (when I always managed to get rostered). But the up shot of doing longer shifts and shift work was the extra days off and the penalties. But I landed a desk job working office hours a few years ago and while I no longer do that job, I have made a choice not to return to shift work. For me it is now about the health benefits of working 'normal' hours over the few extra dollars working shift work will give me.But the 8am drinks for catch ups was always fun....bring out the bloody mary's I say!!
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RHP User
12 years ago
Shift work is a killer no doubt, worked 10 years doing it but back in those days it was 8 hour shifts 8-4; 4-12; 12-8 rotating over a 9 week roster and repeat. So many I worked with self medicated with alcohol, and other legal and some not so legal medications, too many became very dependent on it to sleep and relax. Many became disfunctional outside work, lots of stomach, bowel and other cancers, depression, a lot of smokers as well. Times have changed and now shifts have moved more to 12 hour and so many days on then off, particularly in the mining sector. You never get used to it but some learn how to control it better than others. All I can say is I could never do it again and I tip my hat to those who make the sacrifice for we mere mortals. BTW sorry for being a little morose but it is a difficult life you lead.
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RHP User
12 years ago
So far I love working shifts. Granted, I don't do proper night shifts (they are sleepover shifts, where you work til a certain time, sleep at work, work in the morning) but it does get a little taxing on the partner when I am away from home more than my standard nights each fortnight. The worst shifts I find are the ones starting early in the morning... I hate getting up early. Much prefer the afternoon/evening shifts when I'm most alert. One plus is, as I often have mornings free, I have a very neat house these days but I do get bored being the only person not working. Lately, I've been working pretty much to my full allowable hours so trying to plan social things around that have been a bit challenging. - Ms Otori
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RHP User
12 years ago
Quoting 'Willedoo' So many I worked with self medicated with alcohol, and other legal and some not so legal medications, too many became very dependent on it to sleep and relax. Many became disfunctional outside work, lots of stomach, bowel and other cancers, depression, a lot of smokers as well. I too have seen this a lot with co-workers and tend to agree with your comments..regarding medications, alcohol and illegal medications.I am so surprised the amount of people I work with who smoke pot..it's a LOT!!!!Not for me... No way in hell would I stay in that role if that were the case for me depending on substances etcI would be seeking another role that would make me happy.Foxy
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RHP User
12 years ago
Quoting 'Otori' So far I love working shifts. Granted, I don't do proper night shifts (they are sleepover shifts, where you work til a certain time, sleep at work, work in the morning) but it does get a little taxing on the partner when I am away from home more than my standard nights each fortnight. The worst shifts I find are the ones starting early in the morning... I hate getting up early. Much prefer the afternoon/evening shifts when I'm most alert. One plus is, as I often have mornings free, I have a very neat house these days but I do get bored being the only person not working. Lately, I've been working pretty much to my full allowable hours so trying to plan social things around that have been a bit challenging. - Ms Otori Totally understand where you are coming from..Foxy
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