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Would you consider working night shift if the price was right?

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After fifteen years, I am doing a special incentive contract to work the night shift. My job satisfaction is so high. I don't think it's something I could do permanently but I've adjusted quickly. I'm getting a nice bonus, shift differential, and everyone is so cool. It's nice to be able to slow down a little and actually critically think through the things I have to do. There are fewer distractions. During the day, I am too overstimulated sometimes. The pace is different. It's not as if there are not plenty of things to do but it's normal busy. I'm at the end of the contract with two weeks left. I'm a little nervous to go back to the day shift. I've considered staying on nights but I can already tell that the back and forth of day sleeping is not healthy. Gracie the dog sleeps at night with my daughter and then sleeps and guards the end of my bed as I sleep in the daytime. Since school has been out, my kids have adopted my schedule. I woke up a few days ago and they were both asleep at 5 pm. As i was leaving for work they were getting out of bed and started playing games, they stayed up all night. It's summertime so they can get away with it but still, I've altered their sleeping pattern. It's been a good experience. I have gotten to know all the cool people on nights, I've been able to flec my experience muscles a little bit, everyone is fun and really nice, my seniority gets me some super sweet assignments, and the pace is more normal. There's something about staying up all night and then sleeping in the day that feels a little bit like I'm doing something against the rules. I am a rebel! It's nice to know that I can still do night shift but it's time to get back to a regular shift and schedule and all my day people again.
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JakeShade · 61-69, M
I have done some shift work like that in my youth... my worst was a full year of 3 12 hour shifts Fri/Sat/Sun to get in 36 hours a week while going to school full time... Monday and Tuesday were HELL, by the time I got done with class I couldn't even do my homework, so I'd sleep straight through like 4PM to 8AM and be back on schedule but *behind* in my homework! If I stayed on top of things, by Friday I'd be rightside up on everything again, stay up straight through to my 10PM-10AM shift and then sleep 12noon to 10PM Sat/Sun and start all over again!

I was young, it whacked me out a little but I had the vitality to do it. I can't imagine any significant off-schedule shift at this point in life... good on you for handling it as well as you have! You definitely don't want to whack your kids schedule out like this on a long term basis, but it could be a good experience for them in the short term. "REmember that summer when mom was gone all night and slept all day?" That is the stuff memories are made of!