How can i sleep at night?

How can I get others to understand I work third shift so I don't sleep at night?

• I've been working 3rd shift for 5 years now and I like it except for the fact that no matter what I can't seem to get others to understand I have to sleep during the day. I turn off my phone when I sleep now because otherwise I'd be woken up all day. When I wake up I have texts and voicemails and when I call them back they are all upset because I didn't answer in the middle of sleeping and hop out of bed to go do whatever. If I try to make plans in advance they always want to go out right in the middle of the day and if I try for later in the evening so I can be rested for work that night they always say no I can't I need to be up early in the morning so it'll have to be during the day. My job includes working weekends which they have off so during the weekday when I get a day or 2 off they don't want to do anything because they have to work, which I completely understand. For the last 5 years I've explained to them my nights are their days and vice versa but they seem to think I get paid to sleep all night or because I work night shift I automatically don't need to sleep. I've asked them to stop by my work when it's slow around 3:00am just to see their reaction and they look at me like I'm crazy and say but I'm sleeping then and I'll tell them see what I mean. I know this shift cuts into my social life a little, but I'm supporting myself and need to work to survive and I'm thankful to have a full time job in this economy. Has anyone who has ever worked this shift found a way to convince others that you need to sleep too? If so I'd love to hear what worked for you. It's getting to the point now, where these certain friends who can't understand after 5 years of this, that I'd love to call them up in the middle of the night and give them attitude because they were asleep, which I wouldn't actually do, but would love to. Does anyone have any suggestions or this just something that will probably never sink into their heads?

• Answer:

  I really sympathize with you. Half of my professional career has been working from 11:00-7:00. My biggest problem was people knocking on the door and even coming around to the bedroom window and tapping on the window, I had signs made ,written in several languages, that I placed on the front and back doors: DO NOT DISTURB - SLEEPING. It did absolutely no good. The mailman was the worst. I also had to deal with my in-laws, who lived next door and were retired. I did exactly what you were talking about...about 10:00-10:30 before leaving for work, I would return phone calls. I would begin by saying how sorry I was for waking them, but this was the only opportunity I had to return calls. I enjoyed working these hours as I have always done my best work on 3rd shift. Also, staff who worked the "graveyard shift" got a bonus. Sure your social life is going to suffer, but it was an easy trade off for me. Third shift was so much easier and less complicated. I had to deal with less bureaucracy and inter- office conflicts. The price paid was the loss of some friendships and missing out on some special occasions. Some suggestions - every time I got my schedule, I would make copies and made sure that everyone got one. I invested in a good pair of earplugs. For some people, you just have to be rude and tell them to not call if they cannot respect your wishes.