I’ve worked 2nd (afternoon), swing (evening), and 3rd (overnight) shifts for the majority of my life. I recently moved into a training position where I’m Monday through Friday, 8am to ~5:30pm (I get OT while I’m cleaning up and writing reports).
As much as the 2nd/swing/3rd shifts screw with your life in other ways, the difficulty in scheduling any kind of life services outside of working hours is maddening. Doctor’s appointment? Nope. DMV? Maybe Saturday, if you’re lucky. Chaperone your kids field trip? Hahahhah no.
I don’t want to burn sick time for a doctor’s appointment (I need to save those for when my kid is actually sick), and I sure as hell don’t want to use up a “vacation” day for it. How tf are you supposed to get anything done?
I recently (3 years ago) changed gears employment wise to a 2 week rotating schedule, working 7 days out of 14 plus and flex time usage. 10 years of house projects done in 6 months. New roof, kitchen renovation + new flooring/paint/trim throughout the house. Raised beds built and in use. Vermin proofed half the block to ward off woodchucks. I go fishing whenever.
60 hour work weeks simply aren’t worth it to me.
That sounds amazing…
There’s no way i would have gotten any of it done working Mon through Fri as I typically did 10-12 hour shifts. No time and no motivation and def no energy.