Advice(s) appreciated for a nightworker

[Chu]

Apologies for my sometimes wrong english:I meant "I have to"i.e money issues! ;)

Well, 6 months is not that long, if you can try to adapt following the advice given, so that your body doesn't take too much of a toll.

Just throwing out an idea here: What is it that you have always liked doing, and that you have skills for? From the times you and your wife came here, I gathered that you must have lots of good skills in several areas having to do with farming, building, eco living, etc. Those things can be very useful! You and her could both try to find other venues, little by little. You know that the possibility of teaching EE is one of them, and that we think you'd both be great at it. The problem is money, of course, since at the beginning it is hard to make any profit from classes. But you never know. And DCM knows how many more French speaking EE teachers we need! ;) No pressure, but just an idea of something you could do while you also look for other possibilities.

We are trying to organize a week course during August. That would be a good opportunity for you two to meet other people who are in a similar situation.

Anyway, if you ever need some brainstorming about ideas, just remember we are all here.

 

[stellar]

I used to work permanent night shifts for years so I have an idea what a toll it can take on the immune system.

One thing that helped me ( I didn't know about EE or this forum) was to give myself at least four hours wind-down time. By this I mean do something that You woul normally do after a day shift and THEN go to be in very dark room.

So, say you go to bed around 11.30am and sleep until 7.30pm, it still gives you that 'I'm just getting up for work' mentallity when you awaken.

What are the chances of perhaps taking a book to work or doing some journaling. You can always post after work, no?

Hope that is somewhat helpful. :)

 

[Don Diego]

Well Ailén,I must say that I've had a huge self-brainstorming night at home after your inputs!and I made my decision clearly that whatever happens I won't go back next year.About what to do next,it's the big deal of this lifetime because I've never anticipated anything or expecting something in return of any action(except for our kids or diet and health issues)That's why I've had so many different jobs and I'm fine like that even though it's a bit worrying and uncomfortable for my wife.Indeed we always trusted DCM to provide the conditions necessary for life,and it has always worked;but nowadays with our new sights upon life on earth(thanks again everybody here for all of these awesome improvements)it became tougher to manage to get the right path for making money...Yet a lot to think about!

I used to work permanent night shifts for years so I have an idea what a toll it can take on the immune system.

One thing that helped me ( I didn't know about EE or this forum) was to give myself at least four hours wind-down time. By this I mean do something that You woul normally do after a day shift and THEN go to be in very dark room.

So, say you go to bed around 11.30am and sleep until 7.30pm, it still gives you that 'I'm just getting up for work' mentallity when you awaken.

What are the chances of perhaps taking a book to work or doing some journaling. You can always post after work, no?

Hope that is somewhat helpful. :)

Wow,when I get home I'm so dizzy to do anything else but sleep!But you're right about books or journaling,that's the best I can do to go on learning :) So much to read or reread!I've been so disappointed by the restricted computers as maybe many of you I'm addicted to this forum Thanks Stellar

 

[Ollie]

Hi Don Diego

There is a chapter in The Circadian Prescription by Sidney Baker with Karen Baar, on Shift Work. Paraphrasing from the book, is the following advice:

For a night shift starting at 9.00pm (early phase), on getting up at the appropriate time* – put lights on, exercise, have a big high protein ‘breakfast’, and avoid caffeine. Take ‘lunch’ at 2.00am (middle phase)– no naps, big high protein lunch, avoid caffeine. ‘Teatime’ is 5.30am (rest phase**) – coffee, tea or cocoa, sweets. ‘Supper’ is at 8.00am (pre-sleep phase) – high carbohydrate, low protein supper, avoid caffeine, and do low key exercise.

*Eight hours of sleep is recommended – waking two hours before your shift starts.

**Please note that it will need a little adjusting (over what I’ve done) as it assumes ‘rest phase’ refers to the time after you get out of work.

This may help, or not.

I agree with others that a better solution would be a day job.

Cold sores usually refer to a compromised immune system - there is a thread on the forum about this.

 

[Don Diego]

Thanks a lot Trevrizent for this very valuable advices! :D

 

[3DStudent]

I do evening shifts, so I get about half the night's darkness and half sunlight sleep in the morning. I haven't tried stellar's idea of downtime after work, as I've always just gone to sleep. But I try to keep all my meals and sleeping times the same as the work week when I am not working like during the weekends.

 

[cholas]

Hi Don Diego. I'd like to chime in and recommend a change in job/working hours as soon as possible also.

I just recently cut back on working nights and within a short amount of time will be able to return to sleeping every night. The difference in energy levels is already very promising and getting a full nights sleep, incredibly attractive.

 

[Don Diego]

Well for the first time of my life I've been fired!

I did my 5 nights run and each night a big unexpected problem occured that I've been enable to fix!

It began by an owen failure: 200 croissants and little breads burned;I've been strongly reprimanded although it wasn't my fault!

Second night a power breakdown followed by fire alarm(panic in the hotel)I've called the supervisor who never saw that in twenty years,I've been enable to restore electricity because I didn't have the key of the electric board!I've been again strongly reprimanded!

Third night a bunch of american people have consumed a lot of 12 years old Armagnac (8 €/drink),they were so drunk at the end that when came the moment to pay...They didn't want to admit that they drank so much (almost 300€!)Of course next morning I've been again strongly reprimanded because of my insistence to be payed! :O

Fourth night a group of senior dutchmen complained about the fact the service was too long (40 cappucinos and white coffees in 5 minutes)You can guess what happended!

Yesterday morning the boss came to me with an angry face,I was about to resign,He told me:sorry you don't fulfil this job!
Wow,what a relief :) I suspect strongly DCM behind all that!

Anyway thank you all for your precious advices,you've been right: nightshifts no good!

P.S.:after my first week,when I began this thread,I did a Yi-King,I had the 6th: Soung/the conflict:conduct the case in his term brings the misfortune. Pretty relevant!

 

[Gaby]

Well for the first time of my life I've been fired!

I did my 5 nights run and each night a big unexpected problem occured that I've been enable to fix!

What a week!!

 

[Don Diego]

Very funny indeed!

 

[Joe]

Hi Don Diego

There is a chapter in The Circadian Prescription by Sidney Baker with Karen Baar, on Shift Work. Paraphrasing from the book, is the following advice:

For a night shift starting at 9.00pm (early phase), on getting up at the appropriate time* – put lights on, exercise, have a big high protein ‘breakfast’, and avoid caffeine. Take ‘lunch’ at 2.00am (middle phase)– no naps, big high protein lunch, avoid caffeine. ‘Teatime’ is 5.30am (rest phase**) – coffee, tea or cocoa, sweets. ‘Supper’ is at 8.00am (pre-sleep phase) – high carbohydrate, low protein supper, avoid caffeine, and do low key exercise.

*Eight hours of sleep is recommended – waking two hours before your shift starts.

**Please note that it will need a little adjusting (over what I’ve done) as it assumes ‘rest phase’ refers to the time after you get out of work.

This may help, or not.

I agree with others that a better solution would be a day job.

Cold sores usually refer to a compromised immune system - there is a thread on the forum about this.

Well, it looks like this job was not meant to be, and I think people in the service industry are going to find customers more and more unreasonable these days with all the strange atmospheric stuff going on and people "disintegrating". So I think you are very lucky to be fired! On the above diet suggestion, just wanted to say that high carbohydrate at ANY meal is a BAD idea. Stick to high fat and protein and LOW carbohydrate for all meals if you want better health and a better immune system.

 

[HiThere]

Seems that the decision was taken out of your hands, but it didn't seem to be a good working environment in any capacity, so good for you!

 

[Aya]

Hi Don Diego

I just finish reading this thread. I could not help laughing when I read your experience on the last week of your night job. :)
I am glad you have solved the problem. Have a good night sleep and rest. Good luck on your next job.

 

[Don Diego]

Good luck on your next job.

Thanks Aya,just to let you know that a friend engaged me for working next three months on his barn,and he saved me because May was the last month of my unemployment income so Thanks DCM too! :)

 

[Keyhole]

I used to work permanent night shifts for years so I have an idea what a toll it can take on the immune system.

One thing that helped me ( I didn't know about EE or this forum) was to give myself at least four hours wind-down time. By this I mean do something that You woul normally do after a day shift and THEN go to be in very dark room.

So, say you go to bed around 11.30am and sleep until 7.30pm, it still gives you that 'I'm just getting up for work' mentallity when you awaken.

What are the chances of perhaps taking a book to work or doing some journaling. You can always post after work, no?

Hope that is somewhat helpful. :)

Thankyou stellar, I have just started working night shifts in a warehouse. This schedule is working perfectly for me, everyone I know suggests going to sleep as soon as I finish work (6am)... although I find your schedule to be much better. The 'morning' feeling waking up just 2 hours before work provides me with enough energy for the 8 mile bike ride to and from work, and the 8 hours on shift - I even have enough for a few hours of learning when I arrive home. Not started taking melatonin yet, I do need to order some although my sleeping is much better than I expected. I think the Paleo diet helps alot aswell.