Overnight workers - I need your help!

[newswoman13]

Overnight workers! I need your help, please.

I work in news production and have just been put on an overnight schedule on the weekends. (this is indefinite until i get a new job, ppl move in/out, etc. etc.) While hard news production is NOT my heart, I am placing several irons in the fire, working on new and exciting opportunities. I refuse to let this take me under. However, I am scared.

In the meantime of my job search, how do you stay sane? How do you take care of yourself? When I've done this before it was temporary -- Even just a couple nights would make me depressed! I am dreading this and am trying to keep my apartment clean, bedroom comfy, so I can come home to a nice environment.

Do you have any prayers that help you, or do you have any routines to help? I've been keeping a food log b/c when I get stressed, I tend to want to eat a birthday cake (ha!), but seriously, I tend to be an emotional eater. Not to obsess over what I'm consuming, but to be AWARE, I need to keep a food log. I love taking classes at the gym -- I do a little Cathe vid work.

Maybe I should join a rotation or challenge you all have going...I just need inspiration and tips or votes of confidence!

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!!!!

:+

 

[newswoman13]

On a funny note, anyone see Steel Magnolias? I feel like Daryl Hannah's character where she enters the holier-than-thou stage praying 24/7! I know there's light at the end of the tunnel, but little things set me off while I'm on this schedule, and I hit the floor on my knees! (See, I can have a sense of humor, but gosh! Help!)

 

[dlavie]

I have ben working 3rd shift for 13 years now.

I chose this as my DW and I did not want to use daycare, we have a special needs child (18 next month).

If you have a family that lives, you will never have a routine. It will be interrupted by meetings, doctor's appts, no school days etc etc.

If you are living alone it could be easy.

Get off of caffiene during the transition period. It doesn't matter when you had it, it will always kick in at the worst time.

Don't exercise within 2 hours of your bedtime.

Turn the ringers of your phones off when you are sleeping. Invest in a pager or cheap cell phone as the "people I don't mind getting woken up by inner circle" number for those that YOU want to hear from.
If you get up to go potty or something, do not look at the answering machine or caller ID, it will keep you from getting back to sleep.

Room darkening shades a must. If you live in a daytime noisy area, invest in comfortable ear plugs. Get them at a hardware store, the disposible types work great.

As far as prayers go, He's there night and day, He works all the shifts.

This is just a start...

Dave

 

[gidget1978]

Hi There,

I work night shifts but not all the time. I work 15 shifts a month, 1/2 of them being night shifts.Sometimes more.

I have a routine when working nights.For one, I do get to have a nap at work, which really helps.I get off at 8 and am in bed by 8:30.I agree...turn everything off in the house.No noise!I get about 4-5 hours of sleep,get DD some lunch,drink my coffee, tidy up and then workout.I am home alone in the afternoons so my time, is my own.
House work is put on the back burner, sad to say.I just don't have time to do the good cleaning and thats all I can do about it.Im not going to get stressed about it b/c I know that I will have a day off soon and I will clean then.As long as I get rid of the dog fur I am happy.
I have been working now since last wed.I worked 3 night shifts and today.I am back again tomorrow night but I will do my housework tonight or tomorrow.

Try not to stress about.Things will get done when you have time to do it.
Lori

 

[newswoman13]

Thanks you all -- I think I'll get more used to it, but I'm having a really hard time -- emotionally. Also, if it's a fulfilling, real job to you, you can handle it better. Like my sister, she chooses overnights as a nurse and wants to be home with her daughter.

I'm in the midst of making some major decisions, so that probably adds to the overwhelming factor.

 

[Sunshine 1528]

For me it was 20+ years ago but helped me lose 30 lbs.

I worked 10 PM to 6 AM. Would go home and sleep 5-6 hours. Get up and enjoy the day. Ate dinner at the standard time and then took an hour or so nap before work.

That way I was not sleeping at all after eating and burned off all the "energy" I had eaten every day.

I loved the part about being able to be outside or play around during the day during the week unlike most people working M-F 8-5.

That was all before marriage and children, though.