Anyone on Third shift?

hmhiggin

So I work third shift.  11-7 five nights a week with a 2 week rotating schedule.  Last weekend was my weekend off, and I tried to stay up during the day to spend time with DD and DH and I did horribly.  I was disoriented and tired, I basically felt drunk. 

It's also starting to hit me that I don't even know when I would see friends.  Or family for that matter.  If i can't function on a "normal" schedule on the days of my nights off, how will i get anything done?  I'm wondering if it gets easier to stay up the more you settle in to the schedule maybe? I'm also just looking for tips from anyone who has worked third shift before. 

Thanks!!

jf198400

My BFF is a nurse working 7p-7a 3nights a week. She tries to get a nap til about noon on her off days and then tries to spend her afternoon and evening doing normal stuff, so she can still sleep at night. I would not recommend trying to stay awake 24+ hours, no one can function like that.

cedenton

My DH works nights every other month. I work full time, too. DS goes to daycare fulltime. DH sleeps during the day and if he's working he's gone when I get home. If he's off, he's up when I get home.