Stress/depression from working at night?

I work nights as well. 12-15 hrs. Monday thru Friday. I switch my sleep schedule around on weekends and rarely get much more than a nap on Monday before work. But Monday nights always drag on. I switch sleep schedule to be with my family and get other stuff done. I can pretty much sleep anytime anywhere

 

I had a regional reefer gig for a few months where 90% of my driving was at night. I LOVED it! Never an issue parking, light traffic, weigh stations often closed, etc...

The company ended up being a POS outfit so I quit. The hardest part about the gig was on my off days every week. Trying to get things done during business hours really screwed up my sleep schedule.

 

Did nighttime line haul nearly 14 years. It does take awhile to adjust. Some had good luck staying up when they got home, then sleep right up till time for work, I had better luck going to bed shortly after getting home, then waking up and spending time with family before work.
There will be ‘days’ when you won’t be able to sleep no matter what you do, those nights are tuff-coffee will be your friend.

 

I’ve had to work the graveyard shift a number of times in my life, and I never could get acclimated to it. Some folks just can’t.

 

I experienced the same thing while working nights for 18 years. I didn't experience it all of the time, but I did for much of it.

 

They create sun rooms in Alaska. Some with sand and beach chairs. Not kidding.

You might try out tanning. It’s for the vitamin D. There is more to it. I did when working nights. Never seeing daylight during winter. It makes a big difference. Had others agree with me.
Had a gal tell me I looked like a movie star.

 

When I was a younger man, I loved working nights. Everything is just much more tranquil. Also, night workers tend to be alot more chill too. Put a guy who's a jerk on a night shift, and he might still be a jerk, but he'll be mellower and usually not nearly as hard to deal with.The thing I used to like is when it is getting close to day shift and the 'normal' workers and bosses come into work for the day, you can feel the tension and chaos building, while you're walking away and done for the day.
Anyway, when I was working nights, I had a regular job with weekends usually off and I'd end up flipping myself for weekends. And flipping back during the week. I was much younger then. Also, I didn't necessarily always sleep when I got home. Sometimes I'd go to bed just after getting off work, then be up a few hours before going back. Other times I'd stay up somewhat during the day, sleep and get up just before going to work. One of the things I liked about night shift was that flexibility.
Anyway, for a couple of semesters of college, I was working nights, part-time, at a convenience store. One semester I had a Calculus class at 7AM (Who in God's creation would schedule a Calculus class for 7AM!!). Needless to say, I often had trouble staying awake in class, after working all night. Once I explained to the annoyed professor what was up, he didn't bother me about it. I did OK in the class overall, I ended up with a B.

 

I prefer nights. They pay you more to do an easier, less stressful job.

 

Some people will love working nights others just tolerate it while others could never do it.

I do it as an O/O simply because I can make way more money with less stress. I've always liked being out in the dark besides.. I think it is important to flip your schedule around sometimes when off work to live a normal life and do things when the sun is out and to interact with people. Make friends with other people that work the same schedule as you also so you have someone to talk to at night. There's people I used to talk to almost daily that I rarely talk to now but in the other hand I've made other friends I can call at 3 am

 

If ever I drive one of those nights with no, or almost no sleep, I’ll take multiple 20 minute naps through my shift. Each one provides an hour or two of alert driving. If I’m at the point where the nap doesn’t work, then I’m done.