My work schedule is killing me!!!

[Lauriebell82]

I have been working full time for the past 3 weeks and it has been rough. I'm a lot more tired then I was before, as I have not worked full time since September.

 

The problem I am having is that I am soooo tired when I wake up in the morning. My new schedule (that I just started on Monday) is second shift, meaning I either work 1-9 pm or 3-11 pm. I didn't pick it believe me!!!

 

So now I have to try and wake up early so that I can get things done before work, including working out. I still get enough sleep, like I will get up at 8:30 am usually after going to be at either 11 pm or midnight. That should be enough sleep, but I wake up exausted! I didn't feel this way when I was working daylight hours. I would go to sleep a little earlier (like 10pmish) and wake up at 7:30 am for work. So I was getting the same amount of sleep! I don't understand.

 

I have noticed that since I now have to work out in the mornings, I am fighting to have energy to work out. I am so exausted that the last thing I even want to get is run 3.5 miles on the treadmill. I'm so upset!

 

Any advice?

[hotgurl]

no advice here. I used to work 3-11 though . I liked it. when I was younger.

 

you could still go to the bar after work. sleep in and than have some time in the afternoon.

 

Are you sleeping well? Are you stressed out otherwise? How much are you eating?

[Lauriebell82]

no advice here. I used to work 3-11 though . I liked it. when I was younger.

 

you could still go to the bar after work. sleep in and than have some time in the afternoon.

 

Are you sleeping well? Are you stressed out otherwise? How much are you eating?

 

I'm not a huge drinker anymore, plus fiance works daylight hours so unless I go straight home after work I won't be able to spend any time with him.

 

I sleep at least 8 or 9 hours, you'd think that would be enough. Although, for some reason when I go to bed later and wake up later I'm more tired then if I go to bed early and wake up early.

 

The main problem is trying to workout. What I might have to do is sleep later and then not have as much time before work because I will have to go work out. Ugh, this sucks!

[laRubiaBonita]

your body might still be trying to reset its schedule.

 

i have never been able to work out in the mornings- i am a late afternoon/ evening exerciser.

[Kamille]

How is the job otherwise? Do you like it?

 

No advice either just: maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself, by confusing "morning" with a need to be productive, where, in the past, you thought as "evening" as time off. Are your activities in the morning similar to the activities you would do at night when you were on a more regular schedule in the past?

[Lauriebell82]

How is the job otherwise? Do you like it?

 

No advice either just: maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself, by confusing "morning" with a need to be productive, where, in the past, you thought as "evening" as time off. Are your activities in the morning similar to the activities you would do at night when you were on a more regular schedule in the past?

 

Oh, I LOVE the job!!! My supervisor met with me and told me how impressed she was with my work and how glad she is to have me there!

 

Yeah, my activities are similar. I clean the apartment, take a shower, watch tv, go work out. Sometimes if I need to run some errands I will do that. So I'm doing the same things I were doing at night.

[laRubiaBonita]

Oh, I LOVE the job!!! My supervisor met with me and told me how impressed she was with my work and how glad she is to have me there!

 

Yeah, my activities are similar. I clean the apartment, take a shower, watch tv, go work out. Sometimes if I need to run some errands I will do that. So I'm doing the same things I were doing at night.

 

except now instead of evening= relax/ unwind/ do house stuff evening now means working and keeping that professional facade on.

 

do you wind down after you get home from work at night? or do you basically go straight to bed?

[Lauriebell82]

except now instead of evening= relax/ unwind/ do house stuff evening now means working and keeping that professional facade on.

 

do you wind down after you get home from work at night? or do you basically go straight to bed?

 

Yeah, I kind of unwind after work..when I work until 9 pm I come home and spend some time with my fiance before he goes to bed, then I usually go to bed around 10:30ish when he does. When I work until 11 pm, he is usually asleep so I come home and watch tv for like 45 minutes until I get really really tired and then go to sleep. So I have more time beforehand then I did when I worked daylight hours but I don't have time to unwind after work like I used to.

[Green]

Is there a future in sight where you can work a more 9-5 time period? Or are you just going to look for a new job when you tire of this.

 

When I worked retail I hated working the late shifts because you don't get that unwind time after work and you spend your morning with that count down of time until you have to be at work.

[Lauriebell82]

Is there a future in sight where you can work a more 9-5 time period? Or are you just going to look for a new job when you tire of this.

 

When I worked retail I hated working the late shifts because you don't get that unwind time after work and you spend your morning with that count down of time until you have to be at work.

 

Well, right now I have a bachelors level position (I have a Masters though) and those are all second shifts. The Masters level therapists all work daylight hours, so when I have worked there long enough I plan on trying to get promoted to a daytime Masters level position. My unit is moving to a bigger part of the rehab center where there will be more clients, therefore they will need more Masters level daytime therapits. That is happening in October. They always usually hire internally for Masters level positions so I COULD apply for one in another unit. I like my unit though so I don't know if I want to try to switch units to get more pay and better hours before October...

[Sweetcheripie]

Give the new schedule some time. Even though you love your new job there is a lot of stress and your mind and body are just fatiqued. Try to keep up the exercise because it will help with the stress and energy level.

 

With the new schedule are you eating ok? Healthy protein and veggies etc?

 

If there are no other reasons (ie preggers, etc) then just be gentle on yourself and realize your body is just adjusting to the new schedule. I'm pretty sure even if you were working 9-5 you would still be exhausted because of the new stress and change.

 

Congrats on the job!

[Green]

I say you need to make sure you get switced over to a Masters level day time thing as soon as posible.

[Lauriebell82]

Give the new schedule some time. Even though you love your new job there is a lot of stress and your mind and body are just fatiqued. Try to keep up the exercise because it will help with the stress and energy level.

 

With the new schedule are you eating ok? Healthy protein and veggies etc?

 

If there are no other reasons (ie preggers, etc) then just be gentle on yourself and realize your body is just adjusting to the new schedule. I'm pretty sure even if you were working 9-5 you would still be exhausted because of the new stress and change.

 

Congrats on the job!

 

Yeah, I'm eating okay. They keep junk food in the break room at the office for everyone to eat, which sucks! I bring healthy food and keep it in my office so that I can eat it as a snack when I get hungry.

 

You are right that I may just need to give my body a chance to adjust. I have not worked full time in a long time, and as an addictions counselor no less. It's really hard though, I am starting to wake up with a huge headache. I don't know why! Caffeine withdrawal? I read an article on switching work shifts that says it takes at least 2-3 weeks to adjust to a new work schedule.

 

I say you need to make sure you get switced over to a Masters level day time thing as soon as posible.

 

Unfortunately I will need to wait until October for that to be a possibly unless I elect to transfer units which I don't want to do. I guess I'll just have to hang in there!