It’s funny, I stay up through the night more often than anyone I know but I very rarely get night shift jobs. I had one last night for the first time in ages, back at the courier depot unloading the incoming parcels so they can be delivered all over Brum, and after nine hours of lugging I’m somewhat pooped.
What was really weird was how different the morning felt. When I’ve pulled an all-nighter at home it’s all perfectly normal, but walking through an industrial estate at dawn (and it was a lovely dawn today – shame I don’t feel comfortable taking my camera to work…) and getting the number 11 bus just as the commuters and school kids were kicking in was very odd (and really annoying what with the absurd amount of traffic on the Birmingham side streets. I’m so glad I don’t have a “normal” job). I guess when I set my own schedule I’m quite segregated from society but in this case the juxtaposition is quite stark. Not in a bad way – I do like night shifts. They seem to go by much faster than day shifts for some reason.
And so I’m off to bed. Enjoy the day.
My theory about night shifts going quicker than equivalent day shifts is : During the day, you can see the sun moving across the sky and shadows changing which unconsciously informs your brain about the passage of time. The sun is mostly absent during night shifts, so you don’t notice time passing as much, especially if you have lots of stuff to do.
(The above information results from anecdotal rather than experimental evidence. But I’ve worked nights for nearly a decade, so I should know something about it)
That makes a lot of sense.
I’d also add that during the day there’s always the nagging feeling that you could be doing something else so if you’re not happy with what you’re doing you become less happy about it. This would explain why I’m able to get more computer-related work done overnight.
Night shifts are so much quieter and the air seems a lot sweeter when its not overwhelmingly cold. Easier to focus, concentrate. Then theres something about being up all day, and it not being too much of a leap to push it one night further. Because its all about the drive for this solo operative, a man on a mission, a nomad, surviving in a world were fewer travel. The world of the night worker.
Who knows what deeds can be achieved in the name of the good and mighty those wee hours ?
The time of the ninja. The Jedi. Your only weapons : coffee and will to accomplish minds goals..
I spent too many years doing night shifts. I need to go get a room with a book, a very dark room.