Did you ever work shift work? If so, how did you cope with it?

2015-04-21T16:15:57-04:00

Started shift work a little bit ago, and it has been a rough time switching to days, swings, mids after every week. If you have worked shift work, what was a way that you coped with the alternating schedule?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 6:20 PM

2015-04-21T18:20:05-04:00

I worked 2 days, 2 swings, 2 mids, every 10 days for years. It has it's advantages and it's drawbacks with suicide rates fairly high but nothing is as bad as the MARINES and Army soldiers who fight and do Bivouacs and Major Maneuvers. In spite of some of the drawbacks I had it made. We even worked in the Command Post during chemical warfare attacks.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 21 at 2015 6:23 PM

2015-04-21T18:23:32-04:00

See if you can respectfully request a 12 on 12 off Panama schedule from whoever makes the hours. With 4 Teams that means you can arrange it to be 12 hour days on any hour turnover you like, then have 2 days on 2 days off 3 on 2 off 2 on 3 off etc. Then you switch days and nights on a two month cycle so your circadian rythms can adapt. That was the way we worked it for minimal body impact. Constant cycling between days mids and nights is like its designed to destroy capability: a threat to the mission, not just troop welfare (sleepy SMs screw up crucial decisions). Whenever recommending a change to an organization show how it benefits the mission, not you.

All that said, take care of your body in every way you can, exercise regularly do no tobacco or alcohol or other drugs, eat good high protein high veggie, low sugar food, sleep at least 8 hours a day, look up some sleep aid tips but cold rooms, total blackout, white noise, waking with a blue wavelength light, winding down with red wavelength light may help. You may need to supplement vitamin D if you're not getting an hour of sunlight exposure or so.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 6:24 PM

2015-04-21T18:24:29-04:00

Setup your sleep space. Do some research and you can get plenty of ideas like black out curtains, white noise, and even yoga before bed. It'd tough but the human body can adapt.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 21 at 2015 7:19 PM

2015-04-21T19:19:21-04:00

I used to do shift work long ago. I coped by "splitting the difference" which was basically finding a sleep schedule which was horrible for both but guaranteed I got a solid 4~ hours regardless of which shift I was on, and then I would just shift up or down a couple hours.

Response by SPC Maxwell McManus made Apr 22 at 2015 1:34 AM

2015-04-22T01:34:20-04:00

I did part of my time as a 13B, this meant time playing "hot gun, cold gun." The ruff equivilent of swing shifts. I would allow myself to set to the first scheduel and when the next came I like others treated sleep like it was over rated. Stayed up usually a whole day then when the time to rest came I did. There are many different ways to adjust but for some you would need atleast a day or two in between changes to use. Hope it helps.

Response by SrA Andrea West made Apr 22 at 2015 2:13 AM

2015-04-22T02:13:27-04:00

Whatever you do, don't rely on caffeine to get through a mid. I worked 3 days, 3 swings, 3 mids and 3 days off and it was not fun. I never adjusted to the schedule. Get plenty of exercise and drink lots of water. If you get sleepy on a mid, ask for five minutes if possible and run in place. Yes, it looks dorky but it will wake you up faster than coffee. Especially that 4AM crud left in the bottom of the coffee pot.....