# Day shifts suck! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732 "2016-12-14T23:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/1 "2016-12-14T23:33:03Z")
For the past several years, I have worked the afternoon shift. The times were usually 3:00 to 11:30 or 4:00 to 12:30. I liked the hours quite a bit, and I especially liked the fact that I never had to be awakened by an alarm clock. Fast forward a bit, and a few months ago, I accepted a new position at the same company, for more pay, which is good, but it is 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It didn’t seem too bad to me when I said yes, but every damn shop in my area is closed by 4:00. Seriously, how the do you day shift people (and I must now include myself in this category) get anything done during the week? Everything is closed before work, and everything is closed after work. I’m guessing most retailers make their money on 2nd and 3rd shifters during the week, since they never seem to be open when we 1st shifters have time to head to their stores! Changing my sleep schedule ended up being the easiest part of it. But damned if I hate using a Saturday to get all the little shit done that I used to do during the week! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/2 "2016-12-14T23:41:32Z")
Very long lunches, leaving early, sometimes (however rarely) arriving late. Long breaks and early outs seem to be very easy as everyone understands those constraints, but for a day shift worker it is get there on time or before so you can have the ability to get YOUR shit done also, but get their later and you may as well not show up at all as you won’t be missed. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/3 "2016-12-15T00:15:54Z")
Been working (compressed) graveyard shift for over 20 years. I will never understand how you day-walkers manage to keep your sanity. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/4 "2016-12-15T00:27:24Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Very long lunches, leaving early, sometimes (however rarely) arriving late. Long breaks and early outs seem to be very easy as everyone understands those constraints, but for a day shift worker it is get there on time or before so you can have the ability to get YOUR shit done also, but get their later and you may as well not show up at all as you won’t be missed. YMMV All of those options have the side effect of either reducing the amount of the next paycheck, or eating up vacation hours, which are much better used on actual vacations. Lunches longer than 30 minutes aren’t even an option where I work. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/5 "2016-12-15T00:30:39Z")
I prefer 2nd shift, but it does suck if you wake up early and then have 5-6 hours to kill before work. Time off before work doesn’t feel the same as time off after work. I liked something between, like a 10am-6pm shift. That way I didn’t need an alarm clock and still had time after work. I do understand about not being able to run errands. It sucks. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/6 "2016-12-15T00:43:02Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I prefer 2nd shift, but it does suck if you wake up early and then have 5-6 hours to kill before work. Time off before work doesn’t feel the same as time off after work. > > I liked something between, like a 10am-6pm shift. That way I didn’t need an alarm clock and still had time after work. > > I do understand about not being able to run errands. It sucks. I never had a problem “killing” those hours. There’s always the Dope, after all.😉 ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/7 "2016-12-15T00:51:08Z")
most retailers and similar around me are open until late evening, so either I go after work on my way home, or if I can I wait for the weekend. exceptions like getting the truck serviced means I just drop it off at the place by work in the morning, and get a ride from a co-worker at the end of the day to pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/8 "2016-12-15T00:59:16Z")
I worked the night shift (6pm to 6am) for almost exactly 20 years before I was hired by a place that has no night shift - so I was forced onto the Day Shift. Ugh! The night shift is so much more quiet… so many fewer meetings… nobody from Marketing lounging around my work area hoping (incorrectly) that I am going to finish their project at any moment. I used to go _months_ at a time without seeing my boss. I’ll jump back the first chance I get. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/9 "2016-12-15T01:10:19Z")
I worked graveyard shift for many years, with mixed feelings: The pros: Owners aren’t around Clients aren’t around I could eat at my desk, as long as the work got done. I could make and keep daytime appointments and do chores Getting off work hours early, when the work was done The cons: The phone ringing while I was trying to sleep Friends waking me up, because “I know you’re home now” Going out with friends, or to a concert, _before_ work is weird. Loud construction noise while I was trying to sleep Day-shift coworkers wanting me to do errands, “because after all you’re home all day” Trying to sleep in sweltering daytime heat, with no air conditioning Having coworkers who liked working graveyard, because they were social misfits Becoming diabetic (yes, it’s high among graveyard shift workers) An insane owner firing the entire shift on Christmas Eve All in all, it’s so much better to work my own hours, at home. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/10 "2016-12-15T02:27:18Z")
Stores around here are open til 9pm, if not 10pm or midnight. I’m a 2nd shifter, for about 10 years, and very much enjoy it. I also have a weekday off so can run daytime errands then, but generally don’t go anywhere until 6pm or so. Last time I was in a store on a Saturday I couldn’t believe the crowds and immediately regretted it. That had to be more than 6 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/11 "2016-12-15T12:12:03Z")
Another great thing about working the night shift was being able to put my children on the school bus in the morning & get them back off the bus in the afternoon. Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoyed raising the kids. So, having the ability to smooth that portion of the day was wonderful. There was never any need to rush around frantically. If they missed the bus, I just drove them. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/12 "2016-12-15T12:46:24Z")
There’s a lot to be said for working first shift (4AM-noon): ~ Total autonomy for the first 3-4 hours (that’s when everyone else including the boss comes in). ~ Ability to enjoy the afternoon whether it’s walking the dogs, exercising, meeting friends, etc. ~ Doing errands without much hassle 😃 ~ Getting a bump in pay for taking said shift. The cons, OTOH: ~ passing out around dinnertime or shortly thereafter whether it’s physically, mentally, or a combination of both. ~ Forcing yourself to be in bed AND asleep before 9PM unless you relish imitating the walking dead. ~ Utter lack of social life because of these two points ☹ I did overnight shifts off and on for 10 years and I still do them during the holidays. They’re like an extended version of first shift, tbh. Doing second shift (7-3:30) was much easier on my body and social life but it completely messed up my internal scheduling because I’m so used to first shift. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/13 "2016-12-15T13:50:40Z")
I’m a natural 2nd shifter who has been forced to work M-F 7-3 for over 15 years now. It still hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/14 "2016-12-15T21:44:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > An insane owner firing the entire shift on Christmas Eve Oh wow, what’s the full story behind that? And I feel you OP, I used to work shifts _(earlies, lates, nights on a rotating basis)_ and enjoyed it but took a nine to five _(well eight to four)_ Monday to Friday position when it came up because everyone said I would be crazy not to. I’ve spent the last four years trying to get back to shifts, I feel like strangling people when they tell me how lucky I am not to be working them! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/15 "2016-12-15T22:43:30Z")
Shift work? I normally work 7:00am - 6:00pm M-F. Occasional weekends and travel. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/16 "2016-12-15T23:10:36Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > … > but every damn shop in my area is closed by 4:00. Seriously, how the do you day shift people (and I must now include myself in this category) get anything done during the week? > … Most of us live in the 21st Century where the vast majority of stores are open late into the evening. That’s the core of your issue. Most doctor offices around here have late hours a couple days a week. It’s simply expected in the modern world. Some parts of the country still do things the 1940s way. It \*might \*be lower stress. It’s definitely lower convenience. As a serious suggestion, amazon or the equivalent can solve damn near all your non-food shopping needs. And do it 24/7. Grainger can do the same for the industrial stuff. Which leaves you needing perishable food, haircuts, and doctors. And not much more. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/17 "2016-12-16T15:50:09Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Which leaves you needing perishable food, haircuts, and doctors. And not much more. You forgot strip-mall Vietnamese massage parlors. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/18 "2016-12-16T16:01:56Z")
I work 4 am to 1:30 pm. Get off plenty early for most chores. Going to bed at 6:30 to get up at 3 sucks though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/19 "2016-12-16T20:33:28Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > You forgot strip-mall Vietnamese massage parlors. I’d expect them to offer extended hours. If they’re not open, just call and they’ll make a “house call.” At least the good ones will. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732/20 "2016-12-16T21:23:21Z")
The worst thing is changing shifts. Pros and Cons to all, but rotating shifts only work if done intelligently. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/day-shifts-suck/774732.md?page=2)