Starting a Part Time Job (Graveyard Shift)

[fronkfam]

I am just getting ready to head off for my first night of work at my new part time job. I'll be working 11:30-3:30 Monday-Friday. I'm hoping the time works good for me and my kids. I'm really excited about the opportunity to make some extra money to help pay off our debts. I would LOVE to get all of our medical bills paid off. Wish me luck! Any tips for working these hours? TIA

 

[QVCshopper]

Well, I work 6pm-1am, so I'm not quite your hours. But, the time change can be tough, especially when you lack sleep. I drink coffee at the beginning of my shift so I stay awake. I'm usually good until I've been up for 18 hours--then it goes downhill. You mention kids--if you are lucky and they nap or go to school, be sure to rest then. Mine are always with me and don't nap, so when they get up early, I'm pretty tired. Good luck--it does get easier the longer you do it. I'm approaching 4 years now.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Well OP is on the way to work now so will hopefully check in tomorrow. I raised my kids working the graveyard shift....its a shift I still prefer I worked 11:30 to 7:30 what worked best for me was not going directly to bed when I first got home. I found it very hard to do that and usually went to bed around 11 am got up when the kids got home from school ate dinner w/them & then laid down again. Not everybody can do the split-sleep thing, when they were teenagers (and I was older) I would stay up until around 2 pm with the hope of being asleep by 3 then would get up at 10 have some time w/family and get ready for work.....everyone is different you'll just have to find out what works for you & your family. Congratulations on the new job

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Well OP is on the way to work now so will hopefully check in tomorrow. I raised my kids working the graveyard shift....its a shift I still prefer I worked 11:30 to 7:30 what worked best for me was not going directly to bed when I first got home. I found it very hard to do that and usually went to bed around 11 am got up when the kids got home from school ate dinner w/them & then laid down again. Not everybody can do the split-sleep thing, when they were teenagers (and I was older) I would stay up until around 2 pm with the hope of being asleep by 3 then would get up at 10 have some time w/family and get ready for work.....everyone is different you'll just have to find out what works for you & your family. Congratulations on the new job

I work 11pm to 730am and wouldn't trade it for anything. I drink a bit of Mt. Dew at night to stay awake and fight the boredom, as well as checking in on the DIS! My job is one of those where they have to have someone there for 24 hour support, so I have a bit of time on my hands at night. My sleep is very similar to the above poster. I get home at 8am (maybe toss something in the crock pot), sleep until about 2pm, and then I sleep about 2 hours before I go in at night. Great shift for those that can adapt to the hours, plus they pay me a premium for staying up all night.

The best advice I can give for working nights and sleeping during the day: BLACKOUT BLINDS! They are a must to keep the sunlight out when you are dozing.

The graveyard shift is a bit different but if you can adapt to it, it can be the best thing in the world for a family. We don't have any daycare expenses as I am home when the kids get out of school. Plus we have a family dinner together every night, so it works very well for us. I can adjust my sleep schedule to make commitments during the daytime (kids sports, school stuff) with no problems, and when everyone else is heading out to work, you are on your way home.

Congrats on the job, and let us know how it goes!

 

[disneyfreak7]

Good luck with your new job. I have been working the "graveyard" shift for 4 years now. After working just about every shift there is in a hospital, I prefer the overnight. It works out best for my family. I am home when they get home from school, we have dinner together every evening and no daycare!!! the first 6 months were rough, I didn't think it would work out for me. But I stuck with it and now I am used to getting only 5 hours of sleep. But I am only 3 nights a week so that helps. I catch up on my nights off!!

 

[fronkfam]

Thanks so much for the advice and support. So far, so good. I'm sleeping from 4-7 in the AM. Then sleeping any other time I can throughout the day. I have one toddler still at home, so I can't sleep for a long stretch while the kids are in school, but I think we'll be able to make it work. Fingers crossed!!