I’ve always been curious about working in a company with a shifting schedule. Well, working the graveyard shift to be exact. I really thought that it was easy, I mean I can work from 9am till 3 or 4am the next day. I did that for about 4 months. How hard can it be.
All I can say “Me and my big, fat mouth”.
My first week in working the night shift was a disaster. Well, it was a disaster for me anyway. On my first night, I brought some chocolates as snacks. For the coffee, I was still a beggar by then. My shift started normally enoguh, communicated with my boss, read some emails and downloaded some files for the project. But after 6 hours, I already ate my chocolates (sugar rush) and drank 2 cups of coffee. I really felt weird that time since my mind was on full alert yet my body was heavy. I really tried hard not to fall asleep in my cubicle, on my first day of working the graveyard shift, lest my officemates see me. So, I was practically a zombie by the time my shift ended. When I arrived at home, it was 630am already, I went to bed immediately. I did not even have time to kiss my wife or son. I just changed my clothes and fell flat immediately to the waiting pillows.
The next few days, I was able to adjust slowly, although there is still the pressure of not falling asleep (even just closing my eyes was bad) in front of my officemates. But now, I have found some things to do to help me stay awake (aside from work). Well, the mp3’s on phone really helps, plus the “stretching / walking exercises” every now and then. Still, I’m far away from saying that my body is 100% graveyard shift compliant.
One thing for sure though, working the graveyard shift is quite an experience.
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