WWMD? Rotating shift work.................

[LaramieSkiBum]

Re the dark room thing - all the shift workers on minesites I used to work at had black plastic masking taped across their windows to block all light (like bin liner plastic). Even little gaps suck when piercing bright daylight is shining through and you're trying to sleep.

x 2. I heart shift work like this, and will be doing it again soon. I periodically do it now, but it will be permament soon.

7 days off in a row kicks serious ass (you only have 4, but still).

You learn to regulate your body, or your body learns. I get a good 6 to 7 hrs on gravys...after staying up the first 24 hours.

8hr x 5 sucks...wtf can you do with just 2 days a week? having 7 off at a time, or 4 in your case, is awesome.

[Crinkle]

not dependant on ambien at all, but it use to help when i was trying to nap and i only do it once a week. I would only take a half, but ran out. I can still shut it down and nap. Like LSB said, get a good amount of sleep. Use the dark room or make one, shut the phone off, use white noise (fan). If you make yourself believe it is time to go to bed it just happens. Then enjoy 4 days off, mini vactions every week!!!

[mac19]

As mentioned already it's different for everybody! Shift work can and has destroyed lives!! In my particular case I work 12 hour shifts on a 28 day rotation as follows 7 nights, 4off, 4days 7off, 3days, 3off and then start all over again. I wouldn't have it any other way I've been offered to go off shift and into a mon-fri routine with a promotion and turned that down. However with that being said when I first started shift work I was quiting everyday I came to work for the first 6-8 months. Once you and your body adjusts it rocks and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's important to get into a routine that works for you.

As others have mentioned when taking paid vacation days(200hrs vacation/12Hr shifts = 16.6 vacation days) strategically used over your 3 day shifts this gives you over 5 months of the year with 2 weeks off in a row. Some years you are forced to use holidays during less convenient times(weddings,funerals,birthdays etc.) during the month which tend to eat up your holidays rapidly(example -using vacation during your 7 nights). To make a long story short without using any holidays you work less than half the year(14day/month) add in vacation and powder errr.. sick days and It feels like your nearly unemployed.

Sorry for the long winded post however you scramble these eggs your out skiing pow or climbing or fishing or whatever you enjoy more than you are working how can that be bad . My advice is you'll never know until you try it, and by the sounds of it you are leaving on good terms from your current job and have a good possibility of returning if shift work isn't for you. Once you've tried it and the extra mid week powder days during the winter and extra time spent at the crag during the summer isn't your style give it up for the day job rat race with all the other suckers.( I'll be sure to make some mid-week turns for ya!! )

[P_McPoser]

x 2. I heart shift work like this, and will be doing it again soon. I periodically do it now, but it will be permament soon.

7 days off in a row kicks serious ass (you only have 4, but still).

You learn to regulate your body, or your body learns. I get a good 6 to 7 hrs on gravys...after staying up the first 24 hours.

8hr x 5 sucks...wtf can you do with just 2 days a week? having 7 off at a time, or 4 in your case, is awesome.

x3 You going into ops LSB?

Also for the windows I've always used aluminum foil.

[pointedem]

bad idea

google Circadian rhythm

People say graveyard's take years off your life. Personally- I wouldn't even try. I know my body and know that I would just be spent all the time- Figure one of those 4 days off you will be useless (sleep)

then you have three days off before you go back to work and do absolutely nothing but work for 12 hours. What do you do when your shift is over? go to the gym? Hobbies? Whatever it is you will be doing, chances are you'll be doing it half assed because you will be too tired. Think you'll be able to ski after working till 645 am? You'll be so spent your friends will tell you to go home and sleep. I've seen it before- people working nights try to ski on pow days and are super sloppy because they are too tired.

Thats all I have- I could keep rambling, but I say don't do it.

[mac19]

bad idea

google Circadian rhythm

I don't want to scare myself out of a job!

I could keep rambling, but I say don't do it.

I have no doubt this is the smarter and healthier of the two options!

[P_McPoser]

So how did this play out?