The graveyard shift’s got me feeling like the dead…
… But hey, at least it’s peaceful and quiet for the most part.
At my workplace, which is a hospital for context, I’d be the only one working in the I.T. department. (Yeah, we only operate with a skeleton crew during the night— HA. There are so many dead puns with these terms and I feel like it’s intentional).
I feel more productive during this shift, and I believe that it’s because I tend to fall victim to a phenomenon called “Revenge Bedtime Procrastination”.
Revenge Bedtime Procrastination is when you attempt to take control of your life by using the time before bed to do what you want to do — at the expense of a good night’s rest. — health.clevelandclinic.org
I’m not sure if it’s my lack of time management skills or the nefarious soul-sucking, time-consuming nature of being a full-time employee that stops me from having some time allotted for leisure and relaxation, but given how often I see people complain about how they have little to no time for themselves, I’m inclined to say that it’s the latter.
…And maybe just a bit of the former, too.
I only really have my off-days to relax, but even then I’d either use a chunk of that time to do chores or sleep. You see, the graveyard shift cuts into your weekend because you get out of work the following day.
Let’s say that it’s a Friday. Day shift comes in at 8AM and gets out at 5PM, still Friday.
Unlike the day shift where they clock out and it’s still the same date — oh no, no, no! Night shift’s gonna get out at 7AM on Saturday, sleep for like 40, 50, maybe 60% of their weekend, then wake up and only get to enjoy half of their break or less.
The mere mention of this fact makes me want to chew on my foot. It’s real and it’s happening to me. #justiceforgraveyardshift
Circling back to my initial point, I find that I work better when I feel like I’m:
- Unsupervised. I have the disposition of a small, frightened animal if I know that I’m being evaluated for my performance and;
- I’m making the most out of my time (Which is what I feel whenever I bedtime procrastinate).
Is R.B.P. Actually beneficial to anyone? Absolutely not! What it does is just borrow energy from future you, and it bites you in the ass when you need to be functional during the daytime.
Do I still do it anyway? Yes! I’m doing it right now by writing this blog post.
Please send me some melatonin, my circadian rhythm is like an orgy attendee— it’s been fucked over multiple times. A kissaroo from me to you, if you do. Hugs and kisses XOXO.