Are you wondering if the afternoon shift is right for you? There are certainly some advantages and disadvantages to working at a job with abnormal scheduling. This article reviews some of the facets of working 2nd shift hours and will provide tips on having a good work-life balance.
The PM shift is not for everyone, so let’s take a look at what it is and if it’s right for you. Here are some common hours and professions that work the afternoon/evening shift:
Common Hours
Common Professions
- 3 pm – 11 pm
- 4 pm – 12 am
- 5 pm – 1 am
- 6 pm – 2 am (or closing time)
- Hospital/Medical Professionals
- Bar/Restaurant
- Factory
- Warehouse
- Emergency Services
- Manufacturing
If you do or want to work in one of these professions, the chances are good that you’ll eventually work the 2nd shift. Depending on your personal situation and lifestyle, this could be beneficial, although it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this schedule.
2nd Shift Hours – Advantages
Less Traffic: You will definitely miss rush hour on the afternoon shift. No more headaches while sitting in traffic for an hour just to move a couple of miles. For me, this is one of the best advantages of working the PM shift. Traffic tends to increase frustration and stress which just makes to a bad start of the day.
Can Make Appointments: Have you ever tried to go to the doctor or dentist on the weekend because you’re on dayshift? It’s definitely not easy to schedule medical or any other type of appointment – unless you want to wait a few months. If you are working the afternoon shift, you can make your appointments for the morning and still make it to work.
Less People are Out: Since most individuals work the dayshift, in the mornings when you’re off there aren’t many people out. You can grocery shop, go out to eat, or do anything you want with less of a crowd. You will definitely spend less time waiting in lines.
Possible Higher Pay: Some industries pay more money to work 2nd shift hours. This is because it’s a less desirable time to work, so the business offers incentives to get people to work. Typically manufacturing, warehouse, and factory work will have different pay levels depending on which shift you work.
You Can Sleep In: If you hate when your alarm clock goes off at 5 am, the afternoon shift might be right for you. You might even be able to throw your alarm clock away! Get out of bed on your own accord when you decide you’re ready.
No Daycare: If you are a parent and your spouse works dayshift, you can potentially save money on daycare. There will always be a parent at home to watch your children.
2nd Shift Hours – Disadvantages
Abnormal Hours: This one is kind of self-explanatory, but you’ll be working the hours when most people are at home. It’s hard to find time to be social with your family and friends on the 2nd shift, so it’s important to make time for this. When you’re working from 3 pm – 11 pm, most people are working when you leave and asleep when you get home.
May Not See Family: One of the advantages is saving on daycare. With that comes the possibility of not seeing your spouse regularly. When you are home, they are at work and vice versa. In addition, if your kids are in school, then when they get home, you’ll be at work.
Businesses Closed After Work: If you don’t run your errands and plan accordingly in the mornings, then you are out of luck after work. Most businesses are closed when you get off of the afternoon shift. Make sure you put yourself on a good schedule to get things accomplished.
Possibly Detrimental to Health: In our review of swing shift we discussed the potential problems of shift work. Research suggests shift work enhances the chance of physical and mental problems. Be aware of the possible disruption of sleep, increased probability of cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, possible psychiatric issues, and more.
7 Tips for 2nd Shift Hours
Get Sleep
The afternoon shift has the potential to mess your sleep up. When you get home at 12 am or later (and usually not ready for bed right away), not getting enough sleep is a possibility. This is definitely true if you have children – you’ll be going to bed late and getting up early.
If you need to, take a nap before work or during lunch break. It’s been proven that reduced sleep increases the chances of errors, so following this tip is imperative for success. Getting enough sleep is important to overall health in general, so don’t take it for granted.
Exercise
Build a workout routine around the afternoon shift. Since your mornings are free and fewer people are at the gym, it’s not too hard to get some exercise in. Our review on swing shifts explains some of the health risks of working weird hours. Essentially you have an increased chance of cardiovascular problems and other illnesses.
Having an exercise routine will definitely help with these potential issues. Here are some helpful programs that we like to use:
If you are new to working out, then some of these are great starting points.
Eat Right
Plan ahead for what you’ll be taking for a lunch break. Since you’ll be missing dinner time, it’s important to take a good meal to keep you going for the night. If you pack a lunch, this will also reduce the likelihood of hitting up the candy machine or another not-s0-great food source. Here are some articles that might help:
Find a few meals that you enjoy and are healthy, then take them to work with you. I used to work in a hospital and every Sunday one of the nurses would bring a home-cooked meal. It was awesome and definitely kept everyone going with a smile.
Have Time Management
Try to run errands in the mornings since everything will be closed after work. Sometimes it’s difficult to get motivated to do anything when you know you have to go to work afterwards. If you fall into this issue, it’s tough to get anything done. Things that may help:
- Have a Plan
- Make a Schedule
- Use a Calendar
- Do One Thing at a Time
Watch Caffeine Intake
I drink a LOT of coffee, and sometimes I find myself having trouble sleeping. Be sure to pay attention to how much you’re drinking, and cut yourself off at some point in the evening. An acceptable amount is 400 milligrams of caffeine which is about 4 cups of coffee.
Give yourself about 6 hours after your last cup if you want to get some quality sleep. So on the afternoon shift, if you want to go to bed around 1 am, try to have your last jolt around 7 pm.
Take Activities for Breaks
Keep your mind fresh with activities to do on your breaks. Anything you enjoy will do – from phone apps to crossword puzzles. This will lessen your chance of getting tired and keep your thinking straight. The 2nd shift can be tough because you’ve been up all day and focus is reduced. If you keep yourself occupied, you can prevent this. Ideas:
- Stretch
- Exercise
- Play a Game
- Have a Good Conversation
- Take a Nap
Watch Out for Bars
About the only business open after the evening shift is a bar. Try not to make this a habit for obvious reasons. It’s nice to be able to go out with co-workers and vent about the boss at times, but if it becomes a habit, try to get better at going straight home.
Final Remarks:
So what do you think? Is the 2nd shift for you or do you prefer a normal dayshift schedule? If the pros outweigh the cons, then it just might be the right path for you. It doesn’t hurt to try something new.