I have been working night shift in a hospital for the past 6 months and as it comes to a close I reflect on what I took away from this experience.

 

It’s way more chill.

First and foremost is that people of the night are so chill. The culture of night shift is definitely not for the high-strung. There is less family, no extra hospital staff (linens, CSR, nutrition, therapy) it’s pretty much just nursing for the majority of the shift.  The night staff is generally observes a culture that thrives when there is harmony and wants to do their best to keep that rolling. Not that day shift doesn’t love harmony but harder to achieve when there are so many other services all working at the same time.

 

Wake up to so many messages.

Since you sleep during the day, when you wake up the whole world has been active. So when you check your phone there are some many emails and texts, and weird voicemails like Walgreens telling your prescription is ready. Since so many of them are from hours ago you feel really compelled to answer quickly. It’s a little exhausting and overwhelming first thing.

 

It can feel isolating.

It’s hard because around 10 PM no one returns your texts anymore. You end up addicted to Buzzfeed figuring out which SATC character you are based on your pizza topping choices. Everyone wants to do things around dinner time and I’m like I don’t want happy hour, I just woke up. It will feel like day drinking. On your off nights you stay up late watching tv and playing video games (which isn’t the worst life).

 

You have beer and soda at weird times.

I eat my breakfast at 4 PM and sometimes getting a beer at 8 AM is the coolest part of working at night. You just feel like a boss. I also drink a Diet Coke before I go to bed in the AM  with the justification it’s my night-time but I also have one when I wake up with the justification it’s 4 PM so that is pretty sweet.

 

It takes a little medical intervention in the beginning.

I basically take melatonin to regulate my sleep and it’s always in my backpack and I also have Tylenol because until my body adjusted to third shift, I would get migraines at night.

 

Schmuck waking up at 4 PM. 

No matter how many shifts in a row you work or how hard you work, you feel like a schmuck when you wake up past 4. Even it’s only been 7 hours of sleep. You just feel like a dipshit.

 

Planning your sleep is a thing.

Third shifters are amazing at sleep math! They are like if I go to bed for four hours and then wake up and take a nap later I can go to the concert and be okay!

 

Being single is an extra challenge.

Especially challenging being single. People want to meet for a drink or dinner at like 5 or 6 and you’ve been awake for like 90 minutes and your brain is mush. Then when you are waking up and feeling good a few hours later, they are wiped from their day life and want to go to bed. Then if you are getting to a place of sleeping over, it’s especially awkward because you might not want to go to bed at their early hour.

 

Walking at night is not as scary. 

I don’t live in the nicest neighborhood but I have no reluctance of walking at night because third shift has made me the shadow king and I have no fear.

 

After hours meals is a god send.

I’m very aware of what late night things around me. Who delivers late and where I can get ice cream at 3 AM.

 

I have a new list of enemies.

Lawnmowers! My newest enemy. Although the list ranges from children who aren’t in school and play outside my window to anyone who rings the doorbell and generally the sun.

 

Vacations are a little trickier.

They take a little bit more planning because you need a few days before and after to adjust to day life and then back to night life.

 

Caffeine game is strong.

There is no coffee shame, you can basically slam an entire red bull while eating espresso beans and talk about how you had a caffeine enema earlier and you are still just at rookie status.

 

Traffic is very much not a problem.

Being on an off schedule of the world you basically have the road to yourself and Meijer is significantly less annoying at night. A 24 hour gym is great in the middle of the night and seeing week day movies are chill.

 

Weight gain is an issue.

You eat at weird times and your metabolism is so out of funk. Plus I think I’m just always tired so the gym fell to the wayside. I also love treats (plus there was that whole thing about soda and beer and Redbull earlier).

 

Comradery is the best part. 

Third shift people just get it. It’s like weird army buddies. When you see them at night and see them coming into work. You give them a knowing head nod and a non verbal look that says “I know your pain, but we are Vikings! People of the night! We can handle anything!”