Tips for Overnight Shift?

[Hermione Granger]

So, I recently started a security guard job and I've been assigned into a permanent site. Upside: Money! Downside? My shift schedule is 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. This schedule scares me since I wasn't aware it would be my permanent shift until the day I went to pick up the uniform for the job lol Also, I've never actually stayed awake till 8 a.m. without the help of a computer or electronic overall, which I'm not allowed to bring into the job. The phone can be brought I guess, but it can't be visible (there is an an area in the desk where I won't be detected if I pull it out, but I don't think I'll be able to do too much with it since I won't be alone)

I've never done an overnight shift before and I'm so scared that I'll get tired to the point of not functioning properly on the job. I intend to drink caffeine, but still. I've been having bad anxiety thinking about what could happen. This will be a new experience and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to deal with them?

Thanks!

(please only comment if you're gonna be serious)

 

[That Zephyr Guy]

Under the threat of losing your job you'll find the energy to stay awake.

Coffee also works.

 

[Aquari]

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE, coffee will keep you alive!!!

 

[lostineverfreeforest]

Who guards the guards? You'll figure out where you can use your phone and such in due time.

 

[Hermione Granger]

Who guards the guards? You'll figure out where you can use your phone and such in due time.

I know that my partner is gonna be a shady guard who does not really follow rules himself but since I'm new I know he might try to do me in if I anger him in some way. He tries to do that to the new supervisor, at least and he seems petty. I don't know who actualy guards us tho

 

[Trent the Paladin]

Ultimately whenever I do overnights, I just change my sleep schedule to reflect that. Honestly I'd be glad it's a constant 12-8 am thing, because flip flopping would probably ruin you in the long run. I was going to suggest music, podcasts or reading materials but it sounds like none of those are good options so maybe find ways to stay entertained on the job without getting in trouble? Surely after that first night you'll have noticed what others do.

 

[Minties]

If it's your permanent position, then you'll need to slowly alter your schedule to fit the night life. It's actually kind of depressing, but you really need to make sure that you DO leave the house whenever you can when the sun is out and during the "day" (late day really because night shift). Be prepared for family to get a little annoyed at you for missing early lunches because you have to sleep. Lots of energy drinks and caffeine can help you get through your first few shifts because you won't be accustomed to the time. You just have to make sure that you are productive in the time that you're not working or sleeping otherwise it because a dark monotonous routine.

 

[nerdatheart9490]

I'm sure coffee will help, but also drink plenty of water. That can help you stay awake. Or at least the need to pee will. Other than that, can you at least bring a book? Or maybe there will be enough work to keep you busy until the end of your shift. Good luck.

 

[KaydeeKrunk]

*cracks knuckles* Welcome to my world!

I am a night auditor at a hotel so 10pm-8am is my schedule and believe me once you get used to it and find your groove it'll be easy. However, finding and maintaining that groove can be really difficult, I only recently (after a year at this job and being flung around to all sorts of different schedules on top of my graves) have I found my groove, but it WILL happen!

Firstly, I honestly advise AGAINST energy drinks, because at least for me, the just make me crash, and HARD. If I ever indulge in an energy drink it is usually at 4am or something to get my over the last hump. Coffee would probably be fine, but I literally just drink ice water all night long.

As for entertainment it really depends on what is allowed, since it's security I am sure you have to stay alert or something and that's why you aren't supposed to use devices, but that really also sucks. I would see if they have policy against things like coloring, drawing, reading, maybe like crafty stuff if you're into them like knitting, origami etc. Entertainment is really crucial and staying busy and moving really helps you stay awake. It helps if you'll be sitting all night to get up every once in a while and stretch and stuff, sometimes on tough nights I will intentionally sit in an uncomfortable way, like right on the edge of my chair and it usually helps me stay awake. XD

Another thing that always helps me get through the night is bringing snacks and eating, like if you're drowsy and about to crash or something stuff something in your gob, it also helps if eating gets you away from where you're stationed at least for a bit. I usually try to save my "meal" if I have one for the half way point or a bit past the half way point so the energy from it will kick in to keep me up.

But really the most important thing is sleep, and I can't exaggerate this enough. Whatever you used to do for your last job is usually the best to mimic, whatever used to work for you in "regular people time" is what you need here. So if you usually let's say came home from work and went right to sleep, or if you came home and stayed up until early morning or whatever you want to copy that for your new time. So for instance I try to usually come home, stay up for maybe an hour or two, usually eat something (my "dinner" meal), watch a few shows and then go to bed around 10-11am or so.(I highly suggest getting light blocking curtains for your room as it is really hard to sleep with sunlight and birds chirping.) Then I will usually wake up anywhere from 4-7pm depending on how tired I was or what is going on in my house(I live with 5 other people so yeah...), have my "breakfast meal", hang out with the fam for a bit, do whatever I need to do like take a shower, this is pretty much my only "free" time but since it's late at night I usually don't really do much of anything... Then I start getting ready around 9 or so and then head to work. The hardest part is trying to maintain this during my "weekends" because I have a boyfriend who gets up semi-early and I want to spend time with him, so I try not to skew too far from my sleep schedule, but usually end up deviating a bit to spend time with him and our family.

So yeah, the first while will be a little hard but once you find your groove you'll be awesome at it, hopefully they're a bit more lenient for the night people, even our security people here get a bit of access to a computer for entertainment purposes, so hopefully they'll let you do something as far as entertainment.

 

[Aloha]

Coffee.And if you run out,monster.My friends worry sometimes I'll kill myself but very rarely do I drink the two together.Only when I need to pull an all nighter for something extreme.

 

[Blueskyy]

Tip: Drink coffee and don't die.

 

[Hermione Granger]

Hi, all! Thank you so much for the tips! I officially survived my first weekend of overnight shifts and they were not as terrible as I anticipated. It was tiring but I guess the constant tiredness in my life made it feel indifferent in a way.

BUT! I survived thanks to a lil nap before leaving to work and coffee. One cup did enough to keep me up since I don't really like coffee much so I tried to not depend on it. As for nap, I found that 4 or so hours of sleep before heading out might've helped. I was tired in the night but not as tired as I could've been.
I tried to entertain myself by reading a Driver's Guide book and Harry Potter most of the time. I also went on my phone, but I wasn't constantly on it so hopefully no one complains that I might've done something against the rules. Really, though, I don't see why anyone can get mad that I was reading on the job since 1) I don't see how anyone can expect a person to stay awake if the only thing they can do is stare at a door and 2) There are newspapers on display to read so books don't seem that much different.

Overall, it wasn't the worst weekend I've had in my life. I hope to keep going the way I'm going and eventually find my groove like Kaydee mentioned soon!!

 

[KaydeeKrunk]

Glad you survived! I've heard a few of the night people who have day lives split their sleep sometimes like that, so if that works for you keep it up! I don't think they would mind you reading and using your phone occasionally, and you said you're just watching a door? I mean I can see if you were like watching monitors or something how looking away too long would be bad, but just a door? You should be fine, especially in the wee hours. Not sure how busy it is where you work but here, especially on the weekdays it's dead, and it's an all night casino so I mean... and they don't even mind me doing whatever, like me being on here forever XD, as long as it's not inappropriate pretty much.