12 Hour Shifts anyone? How does it affect your lifestyles?
@Armstrong7886 (303)
United States
May 11, 2008 5:35pm CST
Okay so here is my question. If you are working a job that does 12 hour shifts, how does it affect your lifestyle? Do you feel like you never get enough time? Or do you feel like it makes more time? And how do you manage it if you do work 12 hours? If you don't work 12 hour shifts, would you like to?
So for me, I work at a place that has a pretty good 12 hour shift rotation. I will usually work 3 days then get 4 off. Then work 4 days and get 3 off. Then work 2 get 3 off and work 2 more. Where it starts becoming a strain though is that to look good and make yourself noticed (which I am trying to do since I am only a temp employee right now and want to get hired full-time) they want you to work overtime. So I might only get 2 or 3 days off a week. The first day I am off is usually wasted on catching up on sleep because during my work schedule I feel like I don't get enough. Then the second or third days I am trying to cram so much stuff in them (cleaning the house, out grocery shoppings, keeping in touch with family, etc) I feel like it becomes too much of a stress sometimes. I am getting paid decent money though so I keep sticking it out hoping it will become an easier adjustment for me.
So what are you thoughts on 12 hours shifts?
2 responses
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
11 May 08
Well I dont think I could last on a 12 hour shift job. unless if I get every other day off. But That would be to much for me. I would come home very tired and probally just fall asleep. I doubt I would have time for any fun. But thats kind of like my dad he works that much if not more. He goes to work at 8am comes home about 7pm and then works on his labtop from home he basically has no life and I dont think its healthy for someone to work that many hours.
1 person likes this
@Armstrong7886 (303)
• United States
11 May 08
It can definitely take its toll. Especially with me since I am working night shift. 7 pm to 7 am. I usually leave the house by 5:30 pm so I can get there in enough time and get coffee and prepare myself mentally. I get home about 8 am. So to get enough sleep I need to get in bed by 9 and I have to get up by 4 or 4:30. It doesn't leave any time on the days that I'm working to have any kind of life lol. But on my days off I try very hard to find time to do things that make me happy and to spend time with my fiancee. It puts a strain on things though. But yeah I agree that I don't think its healthy working that many hours, I can tell that my body and even my immune system doesn't hold up like it used to. Good response!
@brandon2103 (51)
• United States
11 May 08
12 Hour Shifts? Try 24 hours shifts. I work 24 on and 24 off. Every 2 weeks I get a 3 day and 3-4 times a year I get a 5 day. That just comes with my job in the air force as a fire fighter. I def. wouldn't mind less hours since it can be very stressful.
@Armstrong7886 (303)
• United States
11 May 08
Very true, I don't think I could manage. I was talking to a doctor the other day that the family knows and he was talking about how stressful it can be (he works 24 on and 24 off) I really don't think I could do that. I mean I'm sure with that 24 off you have to sleep almost half of it to feel worth anything especially with your job. You must love what you do, and also I want to say thanks for doing it, it takes a lot to be in the military and I'm sure a fire fighter goes through so much stress. Thanks for the response! And keep up the good work days at a time lol.
