how did you adjust?

So I posted recently about how I just picked up a line hauling job.
My next question is this. For those of you who have done it, how did you adjust to the random scheduling, and working nights/early mornings?
How did you balance out work and family/personal life?

I'm coming from essentially a 9-5 job.
So going straight to a line haul schedule. What are some things that I can do to help the adjustment go as smoothly and stress free as possible?

 

For me, the hardest part to adjust to was on nights mid week where my run is cancelled.

Saturday morning when I finish my run, I usually stay awake until 6 or 7 in the evening, have a normal Sunday, sleep to about 5am on Monday morning, stay awake until 1330-1400 and go back to sleep until 7 to get ready for my shift.

It's been far easier for me to balance personal and family life than it was on the city board. I see more of my family through the week, get to have breakfast and dinner with them and help my wife see the kids off to school and such.

Your biggest hurdle will be managing fatigue at the beginning of doing linehaul. Eat light lunches with nuts and fruits, and hydrate with water or drinks lacking sugar.

 

What @McUzi said. Also black out curtains and Melatonin

 

If you are working all night keep the same sleep schedule. Even on yoir nights off, go to bed the same time you would if you were getting home. Helps your body adjust better.

 

On a night run get behind someone like me. I am wide awake a 1 AM. Just me some distance.

 

Took me about 3 months to adjust when I went from delivery to linehaul. Melatonin is my friend

 

Actually, a line haul job is about as close as you are going to get to a 9 to 5. Instead of 9am to 5pm, it will be more like 7pm to 5am. It is pretty cut and dry, with very few variances, maybe a breakdown, but you essentially drive the same route every night. It gets incredibly boring. "Going anywhere" trucking is a lot more interesting, but you pay the cost in lack of sleep, or irregular schedule causing lack of sleep. Good luck.

 

i was lucky enough to start at a company with a fairly set schedule. mon-fri, no weekends and no on-call, etc. i went from a day shift job straight to linehaul, as well. i made a bedtime and awake time for myself. i stuck to it in strict fashion. it took me an honest 1.5 years to get comfortable with it. i never took anything to make me tired or keep me awake. i’ve been on linehaul 4 years now and my diligence worked, as i have 0 issue sleeping during the day or staying up overnight. the downside is - going on vacation is a real bear the first few days. i basically can’t sleep at night no matter how tired i am. i take 2-3 hour naps when i can until i’m tired enough to sleep 6+.

i love the job, integrating it into life isn’t bad at all. esp given the money, benefits and general work culture.

on weekends - i get home sat morning 630-730, take a nap and wake up around 11 then i’ll be awake until 5-6a sunday morning, take a nap and repeat. then i’ll stay up until 11a (bedtime) monday and sleep until 7p (wake up) and it’s business as usual.

 

I'd like to contribute, but it's my bedtime! Maybe later...