Friday, January 18, 2008

Weekend Assignment #199

OK, the new weekend assignment is up. Let's go!

Karen asks a very good question:

What is your usual sleep schedule on weeknights? Are you an "early to bed, early to rise" sort of person, or do you stay awake far into the night (voluntarily or otherwise), and get up as late as your work schedule permits? Do you give priority to getting adequate sleep? If so, how is that working out for you?

I don't have a regular schedule at work, that is probably why I am always tired. Any given week I can work one of three different shifts, sometimes more than one shift within one week. I'll try to make this as easy as possible.

The day shift is 7am to 3pm where I work. The first day of the week I end up going to bed around 10:30pm or 11:00pm, and as the week drags on I go to bed earlier and earlier. No matter what I do though I am usually tired and cranky by the end of the week. Surprisingly enough, I manage to perk up the last night of the week.

The afternoon shift is 11pm to 3pm. Even though I start much later, I still get up at 6:30am to get the kids to school. Sometimes I will take a nap, but I feel less guilty if I get things done around the house. I usually stay up to 12:30 am after this shift since I find it hard to go to bed right after work. I think most people are the same.

The last shift I may work is the midnight shift which is 11pm to 7am. I'm usually in bed by 8am after I get home and get up at 3pm to get the kids. It doesn't sound bad, but that first night I am usually up for 25 to 26 hours before I go to bed; I'm playing catch up all week long. The last day of the week on this shift I sleep a lot. I come home, sleep until 3pm, get the kids, go to bed around 10pm, then get up at a normal time. Unfortunately, after working the shift for a week my body is used to being asleep in the middle of the day, so I'm dragging all day.

Like I said, sometimes I may go from a day shift to an afternoon shift, like today, or some other combination. With all that and two kids under six, I am always tired.

Extra Credit:
If you had no work or family scheduling obligations, would your sleeping pattern change substantially?

Yes! I would probably be up until 1am every night, and sleep until 10am at the very least. I've always been more of a night owl.

I know my sister is going to think I am complaining, but I'm just doing my homework....


2 comments:

bluegame said...

you are.You can work my shifts since October. Sevemn days a week and no Bonus this year. Thats motivation.Only difference is no kids. And no one helps at all with this house.

Karen Funk Blocher said...

And complaints here seem pretty well justified!