Back in the day, I worked the night shift.

The work week started late Sunday evening.

I went to work at 10pm Sunday evening and came back home at 6am on Monday.

The rest of the week followed that schedule.

OK, questions I faced ...

Do I eat breakfast when I get home at 6am, or at 8pm when I wake up and before I go to work?

And what about lunch and dinner? When do I partake in those?

Needless to say, I had issues with that night shift schedule.

As it turned out, I slept only six nights per week because I, at the time, wanted to participate in the social events of those who were not subject to that night shift.

Sleeping only six nights a week.

Looking back, I will proffer that the only reason I was able to deal with that schedule was because I was in my 20's and adaptable for the year I was subject to it.

But, in hindsight, it only increases my respect for those folk who work that night shift.

The great people I had the privilege of working with when I worked nights were inspiring to me.

@#2 ... I worked night shifts for 25 years, but only two at a time. ...

I'm not sure how to interpret that.

... but only two at a time ...

That's what Ii do not understand.

@#4

thx for the followup.

In that schedule, how did you adapt to the usual life functions?

For example, when did you eat breakfast?

I do not want to trivialize the effects of a work schedule that is not a routine daytime work schedule.

Indeed, the varying work hours you describe, well, wow. I am not sure how I would have dealt with that.

Of course, I look at my Dad who was a NYC Fireman. There were a couple nights per week, every week, when he was at work, and not at home.

@#6 ... They adapted to the shift schedule, not the other way around. ...

So, on what schedule did they have their meals?

Or sleep?

@#8

Yeah, when I worked the night shift (it was called the "third shift" even though it occurred before the "first shift.'), I ate breakfast usually around 3pm or 4pm. Dinner occurred around 9am.

But those times varied.

And I note that when I talk about being on the "night shift," I was on the night shift continually. 40 hours or so per week. Going to work around 10pm, coming home around 6am or 7am. Each work day.

My circadian rhythms developed issues because I was trying to shift them by 8 or so hours on a permanent basis. I had issues.

Back when I was on that night shift, I was a foreman in a manufacturing company.

I will say that the people I then supervised were excellent performers in their job responsibilities.

There was one issue, though...

One time I went up to the second floor of the factory, and I saw an employee sleeping on the floor.

So, went down to the first floor and I then talked to the Shop Steward, and told him that I wanted to talk with that employee.

A few minutes later, the Shop Steward came back and told me that the "problem" had been handled.

The sleeping employee was a new Father, and he was helping his wife with their newborn. So, sleep for him -- what was that?

He was and continued to be, aside from that minor one-time incident, a great employee.

Unions, and Shop Stewards, can be A Good Thing.