Graveyard Shift?

[VanTrekker]

<p>Is anyone working graveyard shift?<br /><br />I'm not really fond of working those hours but believe it is the best possible way to sleep unnoticed.&nbsp; Many people, including police, are trying to spot and catch those who are dozing at night in front of houses, at the store, etc.<br /><br />How many people do you hear of who get hassled during the day?&nbsp; Practically none.<br /><br /><br />I'm going to start trying to find a job again but this time will ONLY will accept graveyard work.&nbsp; I see a lot of advantages for working these hours (if a person can get used to it):<br /><br /><br />1)&nbsp;Sleeping during the day is warmer<br />2) Fewer a**holes to deal with (angry customers, etc)<br />3) Fewer managers to have to deal with<br />4) Hopefully lower overall stress, slower pace, etc.<br />5) More&nbsp;places to safely park&nbsp;such as parks, shopping centers, grocery stores, parking ramps, places that say "no overnight parking" etc.<br />6) More places are open for business, entertainment, cheap meals (lunch), etc.<br /><br />My own situation is changing.&nbsp; Before long, Dad might have to go to a care facility.&nbsp; I'm sure as heck not going to pay rent.&nbsp; Day vandwelling sounds like a great way to live for practically nothing.</p><br />-

 

[She]

There is one thing to remember not everyone can stay awake at night. I tried this ,believe me it was next to impossible for me to stay awake. I would fall asleep in the employees lounge and I mean a heavy sleep! Also lets not forget the&nbsp;embarrassing&nbsp;time I fell asleep on the&nbsp;toilet. I think if you want to go this way ,first try it.&nbsp;

 

[Les H]

I did overnight shift a couple times while I was looking for work in my field. There is usually a shift differential , (somewhere around a dollar more an hour 15 years ago) it does take a bit to get used to. And I believe you may be right about offiials looking for lawbreakers ( benders?) at night- you'd REALLYhave to call attention to yourself during the day to get noticed. I say go for it , if you can get used to it, though you get some odd looks buying a 12 pk and a roast beef sub at 7 am for dinner.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>I agree about the difficulty of working overnight.&nbsp; Years ago I tried unsuccessfully before but that was only for a day or two.&nbsp; It's worth another try at least.&nbsp; If I fail and can't hack it, there are still some resources to fall back on...&nbsp; If it does work out, that would certainly make things less complicated.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />I've been reading some articles which indicated it takes a couple of weeks to get the body reprogrammed.&nbsp; But like "She" said, it's definitely not for everyone.&nbsp; We're all wired differently.<br /><br />A 12 pack and roast beef sub sound pretty darn good right now, Les!</p><p>V.T.</p>

 

[Pikachu711]

I used to work graveyard shift for almost 14 years.&nbsp;This shift is NOT&nbsp;right for&nbsp;everyone. There are benefits &amp; drawbacks to working this shift. It also depends a lot on the part of the country in which you live as well.<br /><br />If&nbsp;offered a graveyard shift I'd have to consider the temperature during the daytime. If I had to sleep days I couldn't live in a part of the country where temp's were too exteme. Since I'll have at least one cat with me I have to be able to park in a cool place with cover. Being a "grave" shift worker does require you to make certain sacrafices.

 

[katslife]

night shift is great at a motel.&nbsp; Lots of parking and maybe you will get free wifi?<br />quiet nights and warmers days.... I think you have the right idea!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ive worked the graveyard shift here at this motel since 2005 (with a year or so elsewhere then came back).&nbsp; Before that i worked graveyard for like 5 years at a gas station.&nbsp; I love the graveyard shift in a retail capacity, I have very low volume of actual work and in both jobs i worked alone with no direct supervision...i was basically in charge.&nbsp; Get paid to do whatever i want otherwise.&nbsp; At the motel i watch tv or play online games or read all night basically, and get paid for it.&nbsp; I hope they never sell the place...<br /><br />It does take some adjusting but once you do it a while its not rough.&nbsp; And if you HAVE to do something, you can always just shift your sleep around and never really miss work (money).&nbsp;&nbsp; The previous gy shift i worked paid 50 cent differential.&nbsp; This one doesn't tho, really im taking their money anyway <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />I do have to use an eye mask or white noise to sleep, but only sometimes.&nbsp; Usually dark curtains get me through.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One trick that really helps me, and if i have no engagements, is splitting my sleep.&nbsp; I go home from work and crash till early afternoon.&nbsp; Get up and do whatever, then take a nap a few hours before work.&nbsp; I never get sleepy at work this way, and have good energy when im doing stuff.&nbsp; If you have to sleep a full 8 in a row, opt for waking up just before work (like most people).&nbsp; If you crash when your off, then stay up in evening (at dusk your body triggers the desire to sleep at this point), then go to work, you will be drifting off by 4am.&nbsp; A nap tricks your body into turning of the desire to sleep (how 'power naps' work) triggered by lowered ambient sunlight.<br /><br />Vandwelling and working graveyard is going to be rough for you in the summer/warmer months.&nbsp;&nbsp; When you want to sleep it is going to be unsafe or uncomfy in your vehicle.<br /><br />Ive read some medical articles about working this shift having adverse affects on your body.&nbsp; Manly having to do with the production of melatonin.&nbsp; I take supplements for this about 20 minutes before bed (they help you sleep naturally too) in moderation.&nbsp; I also take a couple weeks off so i dont get dependent or out of whack from them.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

There is a lot to be said for what DazarGaiden posted.<br /><br />Been working the Grave Yard shift for most of the last 30 years and love it. &nbsp;Sleeping in the day can be a bit of a challenge due to the day light and the noise around you. &nbsp;Sometimes no matter how quiet it is around you or how dark it is or how tired you are, I just ever really get that "deep" sleep that I sometimes desperately need. &nbsp;From a boon docking stand point though it should open a lot of options up for you to park unnoticed and not get harassed with the dreaded knock on the door and the move along speech. &nbsp;The other difficulty I have found working "vampire hours" is what do you do to entertain yourself all night long on your nights off so that you can stay on your sleep pattern? &nbsp;Sometimes that can be challenging!

 

[Pikachu711]

<p>I've worked quite a few years of graveyard shift. Doing this while living in a buiding with a/c was easy. Working this shift in a van would be a challenge.<br /><br />When I worked graveyard shift I'd go home, check my email and go to bed. I normally went off duty at 7am. By 9am I was sound asleep. This will be more a challenge if I'm living in a van. This applies moreso if I'm living in the southwest USA at the time as well.&nbsp;<br /><br />I'd have to park in an area with as much coverage as possible. Additionally, I'd have to ensure that I have very good insulation in the van as well. In most SW parts of the USA I'd have a hard time being a "day sleeper." I may have to give up working grave's while I'm in the warmer parts fo the country. It just isn't practical. Unless I installed a window type a/c unit WITH commercial power I'd be miserable in the warmest part of the day. Any quality sleep would be difficult at best to achieve.<br /><br />I'd have to become a "snowbird" to make working graveyard shift a workable option again. I prefer working nights but it would have to be in the right part of the country &amp; at the right time of the year.</p>

 

[VanTrekker]

Thanks for the input, friends.&nbsp; I've given things a lot of thought and it's looking more and more like dayshift is still going to be the way to go.&nbsp; There are some advantages to graveyard, but I think it's going to be a "last resort" kind of thing... if I have to sleep on the streets and have no place to park then it might be more viable.&nbsp; For now, at least I have a place to go should the need arise... (my friend's farm)<br /><br />V.T.<br /><br />