3rd shift workers: Will I become even more isolated and weird?

Matt Till · #1 07-02-2008, 11:24 PM

So, the long job search is over: I'm working at Walmart. Yeah... if that gives you any indication of the work in this area, after almost a month of searching for a job.... yeah.

Anyways, it's 3rd shift. I've only worked 3rd shift at a job for a week, barely enough time to get use to it. I predict I will be at this job, in this position, working this shift for some time. I'm wondering, TB 3rd shifters: What's to be expected of my social/musical life?

I'm unsure of my hours, or days, so I hope this doesn't interfere with being in a band (we're just getting started, I'd hate the months of songwriting/practice to go to waste though), gig times will always be 3rd shift for us.

Furthermore, my girlfriend is first shift, she's very weird about this since she is so use to sleeping in the same bed as me at the same time. I'm going to be the type to sleep right after work so I have the afternoon to exist and do my thang.

I've always been a night guy, so it won't take long to physically adjust, but I'm curious what you guys think of the 3rd shift lifestyle.

steve21 · #2 07-02-2008, 11:31 PM

Midnight to 8:00?

How much need is there at wal*mart for that shift?

Matt Till · #3 07-02-2008, 11:38 PM

10 to 7

It's a 24 hour store. It's overnight stocking that I'll be doing.

bryan bailey · #4 07-02-2008, 11:38 PM

A lot more than you would think. A lot of general backroom maintenance and constantly moving a butt load of freight around.

edit: or it could be a 24 hour store.

MysticMichael · #5 07-02-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I've always been a night guy, so it won't take long to physically adjust, but I'm curious what you guys think of the 3rd shift lifestyle.

I've had a couple of third shift jobs, many years ago. I could never make it work. Just could not adjust to sleeping during the day, no matter what.

I've heard/read research articles that suggest the human body simply wasn't designed to operate on such a schedule, that even the ones who manage to adjust to it never sleep as well as those who sleep at conventional hours. And that long-term, over time, it takes its toll. I'm just saying...

I know there are some who like third shift just fine. I think it takes quite a particular type of person to do it successfully....

MM

BetterBottomEnd · #6 07-03-2008, 12:55 AM

I work third shift at Sams Club. I don't really have much trouble sleeping during the day and honestly I kinda enjoy it but it puts a cramp in your social life. It's a decent deal but look for a different job while you're working there.

+1 to what Michael said. I can handle it pretty well but it the long run its really not what you want to be doing.

Lesfunk · #7 07-03-2008, 01:03 AM

I've never met a third shift employee who wasn't deranged...

GeneralElectric · #8 07-03-2008, 01:13 AM

I work third shift and it kills my social life. I don't sleep very much, and I only get to see my friends during my off days.

Music has been very difficult, especially scheduling practice times, but once I find a steady gig with a steady rehearsal time I'd be set.

Matt, you might want to try to work at Costco like I do. Starting pay is $11 an hour, and you can get benefits after 6 months (main reason why I joined up) time and a half on sundays and paid holidays.

jayarroz · #9 07-03-2008, 01:23 AM

well its 3:20 am I'm in the Emergency Room working, you don't work every day of the week I hope so. You get your days off and what I do is book my gigs for the days off and I have practice with the bands in the afternoon on weekends mainly. You can make it work! sometimes I just stay awake through the night into practice then take a nap and do it again. Trust me overnight in the ER is pretty crazy!

CTbass&birdsong · #10 07-03-2008, 01:34 AM

I have worked 11Pm -8 AM for the past 5 years and the previous 20 worked even crazier hours with insane travel....I LOVE IT !!!! I ony sleep 4 hours a day (seems to be all my body requires) and I have the day to enjoy whatever I please...I usually nap 4-8PM.....ands its been my routine pretty much the past 30 years......

Oric · #11 07-03-2008, 02:03 AM

I work second shift at a major car manufacturer's factory. Second shift can be wierd, no telling as far as third. I've often wondered what it'd be like to eat dinner with my family again, or watch Conan. What's especially weird is my band's lead guitarist works 1st, I work second, and the rhythm guitarist works third. We basically can only get together on weekends.

BetterBottomEnd · #12 07-03-2008, 02:21 AM

I would highly recommend a pair of these. http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/sleepsafe.html It took me a long time and a good bit of money to find a pair comfortable enough to sleep in but I finally settled on these.

chuckjones93 · #13 07-03-2008, 02:37 AM

Third shift is like doin' time. If your off Friday and Saturday, then the band thing is doable. If not, it's gonna be tough.

ldervish · #14 07-03-2008, 03:41 AM

Years ago when I worked thirds, sleep deprivation was a given - when I wasn't in the zombie zone, I was cranky and short-fused. A girl I knew fell asleep driving home and crashed. I was low man and had no choice, but many co-workers wanted the night pay. Everyone had trouble figuring out what my "day off" was. My friends didn't call b/c they didn't know when I was sleeping and when I wasn't.

One morning when I was having an after-work beer at 8 a.m. my buddy's wife swore I was alcoholic b/c I was drinking "for breakfast". I appreciated her concern, but our POVs were worlds apart. I was completely out of sync.

The advice to keep looking for something better (and more appropriate to your goals/age/relationships) is solid. WM is stopgap. Don't settle into it.

RiseOfTheWooten · #15 07-03-2008, 05:58 AM

I worked the 2nd shift back when I was a full time university student, shifts starting between 4pm to 6pm, finishing around midnight. It was ok for the first couple of months but it really started to wear down on me. I really started to miss the regular dinner times and the regular things people do in the evenings when most other people get home from work, and even though I didn't really watch much TV, I also started to miss seeing those regular shows on TV. It really screwed with my sleeping habits, even though I'd get home after midnight, I wouldn't be able to sleep till about 5am which is around the time my body starts to wind down after the long shift.

It was also a pain to have to worry about getting back home in time to get to work when I had other things to do during the day. I ended up surviving on 1-2hours sleep a night for about a year and a half.

It was great when I finally quit the job and got a regular 9-5 again.

roberthelpus · #16 07-03-2008, 06:14 AM

The best time to look for a job is when you have one.

kazamamaster · #17 07-03-2008, 06:37 AM

I worked third shift a few years ago: 11:30pm-8am. It wasn't too bad. I mean, my social life took a hit. Most of the people I talked to I ended up talking to when I was off work on the phone at 8am. I normally stayed up from the time I was off until maybe 1 in the afternoon, then I was normally tired and got 8 or more hours of sleep in to do my shift. I was never cranky after my body got used to it. The only problem was being off Friday and Saturday nights. Resuming social life on those night sucks, and going back in Sunday nights was always a readjustment period for the week.

**cheezewiz** · #18 07-03-2008, 07:39 AM

I've worked midnights for about 17 out of the last 22 years. You definitely get sleep deprived. I have Thur/Fri/Sat off though, so it doesn't effect my gigging at all.

CallieBum73 · #19 07-03-2008, 07:51 AM

My husband has worked 3rd shift for years. Really sucks!!!
It was hard for him getting use to the shift, not sure if he really has. As a family we never get to see much of him and lead to our seperation a few months back. We are working things out now, but it really is tough...on everyone.

**cheezewiz** · #20 07-03-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CallieBum73

My husband has worked 3rd shift for years. Really sucks!!!
It was hard for him getting use to the shift, not sure if he really has. As a family we never get to see much of him and lead to our seperation a few months back. We are working things out now, but it really is tough...on everyone.

I choose midnights because it allows me to see my kids and to have weekends off. I would think afternoon shift would be MUCH worse as far as spending time with your family. As far as getting used to mids, I don't think you ever really do. The only way to completely adjust is to keep the "midnights" hours all the time, and stay up all night and sleep during the day on your days off. For those of us with kids though, that just doesn't work.