c/third-shift-lounge

1

the_beth•10d ago

Can we talk about how EVERYONE assumes we sleep during the day like normal people?

I've had three different people this month ask me 'so you just sleep all day, right?' like I'm getting 12 hours of solid rest. No, Brenda, I'm waking up every 90 minutes because the neighbors decide 2pm is the perfect time to start hammering. Then they act shocked when I'm grumpy at 3am. Has anyone else had to explain that 'day sleep' is basically a myth or is it just my apartment complex that sounds like a construction zone?

7

kai463•11d ago

That one regular at the 24-hour diner who finally told me his story after 6 months of nod-and-wave hellos

I work the overnight freight shift at a grocery store, and for months I'd see this older guy sitting alone at the diner across the street around 3am. We'd just nod at each other through the window. Then one night I walked over for coffee and he waved me over. Turns out he worked the night shift at a paper mill for 38 years until it shut down. He said the worst part wasn't losing the job, it was losing the rhythm of being awake while everyone else sleeps. He still comes to that diner because he likes to look at the empty parking lot. Has anyone else met someone like that who just gets the weirdness of this schedule?

7

ruby_foster93•11d ago

PSA: stop trying to force a normal sleep schedule on days off

Worked 3rd shift at a warehouse in Denver for 2 years now. For the first 18 months I kept trying to flip back to daytime sleeping on my weekends to see friends. Every Monday night I would show up at 10pm feeling like garbage. Last month I finally gave up and started sleeping 8am to 4pm every single day including days off. Social life took a hit but my body stopped fighting me. Anyone else finally cave and just embrace the vampire hours?

3

quinn582•12d ago

Heard a daywalker say "just take a nap" like it's that simple

Was grabbing coffee this morning (my evening) and overheard some guy telling his friend how he fixed his sleep schedule by taking a 20 minute nap. Like yeah buddy, try napping when the sun is blasting through every window and your neighbors decide 2 PM is the perfect time to break out the leaf blower. My sleep cycle is held together with blackout curtains and hope. Has anyone else had a day person give them the dumbest advice about sleeping?

28

rosebennett•14d ago

The security guard at my warehouse swore by pickles for staying awake - I thought he was nuts

Last month during my 3am break, Dave the security guard told me to eat a dill pickle whenever I felt the sleepy eye thing coming on. I laughed it off because it sounded like some old wive's tale, but after three nights of almost nodding off at my station I got desperate and tried it. Dude, it actually works. Something about the vinegar and salt gives you a jolt, and crunching on something loud keeps your brain engaged. I've been keeping a jar of Claussen in the break room fridge and it gets me through the 4-6am stretch way better than coffee. Anyone else got a weird snack trick that beats the night shift slump?

3

sethr11•15d ago

PSA: That 3am diner I counted on for 4 years suddenly shut down last Sunday

I pulled up at 2:45am like always for their $5 breakfast plate and the lights were off, sign gone. Found out the owner retired without telling anyone, now I'm stuck eating gas station pastries for my break. Anyone else lose their go-to spot without warning?

24

christopher952•16d ago

Pro tip: My coffee maker timer was off by 3 hours for 6 months

I swear, I set it for 2 AM so it's ready when I get home at 3 AM... but then I noticed my coffee was tasting weak and stale. Turns out the clock battery died and it reset to noon, so it was brewing at 9 AM while I was asleep and sitting there 18 hours. Anyone else find little glitches like this that mess with your whole night shift routine?

8

christopher952•16d ago

Serious question - how do you guys handle meal prep when you wake up at 4 PM?

I've been on thirds for about 6 months now, and I still can't figure out when to cook. Last week I tried making a big batch of chicken and rice at 2 AM before my shift and the smell woke up my roommate. Anyone else got a system that works for fitting in dinner when your day starts at sunset?

18

miles_perez•16d ago

Switched from coffee to cold showers at 3 AM and it actually works

I used to be a three cup a night guy, black coffee all shift long. About six weeks ago I started crashing hard around 2 AM, like nodding off at my desk in the warehouse. A coworker told me he takes a two minute cold shower during break and I laughed at him. Last month I tried it out of desperation and man, it wakes me up way better than caffeine ever did. The first time I did it I couldn't even breathe for thirty seconds, but now I actually look forward to it. I keep a small towel at my station and hit the locker room bathroom around 2:30 every night. Has anyone else found some weird trick that works better than the usual stuff for staying alert on night shift?

16

jakegarcia•16d ago

That $250 fancy blackout curtain I bought 2 years ago is the only reason I still sleep through garbage trucks at 9 AM

Was skeptical dropping that much on a single curtain but after trying cheap ones that still let light bleed through the edges, this thing has a magnetic strip on the sides and now my room stays pitch black even during summer afternoons, anyone else swear by a random overpriced item that actually saved their shift?

8

schmidt.willow•16d ago

Overheard the grocery stocker talking about the back room door code

I was grabbing coffee at 3am before my shift and heard two guys from the night crew at the grocery store talk about how they leave the back door unlocked for 20 minutes during the 4am truck drop. This is the same store where I buy food every week. Made me think about how none of us night workers ever think about security gaps we notice but don't report. Has anyone else caught stuff like this at places you go to regularly?

13

richardh44•17d ago

Cashier at 3am asked if I was a vampire

Last Tuesday around 3:30am I stopped at the 7-Eleven on Route 9 for coffee. The kid at the register looked at me dead serious and goes, 'You one of them night creatures?' I told him I just work the graveyard shift at the warehouse. He said 'Uh huh sure, that's what the last one said too.' Been thinking about it all week, kinda creepy but funny too. Anyone else get weird comments from strangers during your night runs?

7

brian_coleman•17d ago

Black coffee beats energy drinks hands down for 3am crashes

I tried Monster for about two months straight on my overnight shift at the warehouse in Columbus. Every night around 3am I'd crack one open, feel great for 45 minutes, then hit a wall so hard I'd be nodding off at the sorting machine. Last week I swapped to a thermos of black coffee from the break room pot, no sugar or cream. Same caffeine kick but no crash after, I actually made it to 7am without my eyes crossing. The energy drinks gave me that jittery buzz and then left me worse off, while coffee just keeps me steady. Plus I'm not spending $4 a can anymore, the break room coffee is free. Has anyone else noticed their body reacts totally different to the two?

16

parkerk56•20d ago

Pulled into the lot at 3am and the whole automated gate system was dead

I work security at a warehouse outside Cleveland and last Tuesday the gate arm just hung there like a limp noodle when I tried to scan my badge. Had to manually push it up and prop it with a cone while dispatch figured out the software glitch. Anyone else have to MacGyver something dumb just to clock in on third shift?

13

ward.fiona•21d ago

Got told my overnight shift coffee ritual was making me more tired

A new manager watched me chug three cups of black coffee between midnight and 4am, then said I was wrecking my sleep cycle. Switched to one cup at 1am and water the rest of the shift, and I actually feel less zombie-like by 6am. Has anyone else gotten weird advice about caffeine timing that ended up working?

19

sandra916•21d ago

Heard my coworker brag about doing 60 hours of overtime this month and I just laughed

Dude was flexing like it was a badge of honor. I work third shift at a warehouse in Akron and I know what that extra time really is. Its just more time staring at conveyor belts while your brain turns to mush. I did 50 hours one December and my girlfriend told me I smelled like coffee and regret for two weeks straight. Some of us are just trying to survive the night shift, not win a trophy for who can sacrifice their sleep the most. Anyone else get tired of people acting like overwork is something to show off?