Sleep. One of the main reasons I want to FIRE!

[Bateaux]

I've worked 12 hour rotating shifts since 1992.  I just completed 3 night shifts this weekend, next I'll work Wednesday and Thursday 12 hour day shifts.  I have built in 8 hours of OT every 2 weeks.  I'll also be required to work additional 12 hour OT shifts as needed by the company each month.  The pay is good but hell on the body.  I'm perpetually tired and after over 22 years approaching burnout.   They say 7 is the new 8.  Heck I dream of 7 most days.
http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/the-fit-list/You-Cant-Get-Too-Much-Sleep.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebookpost

[soccerluvof4]

Bottom Line: How much is "enough" varies from person to person. While some people may thrive on seven hours of sleep, others may need nine to shine. If you’re active, science says you should aim for at least eight. But if you get more, you’ll likely be doing your athleticism a favor; Lebron James and Roger Federer reportedly sleep 12 hours a night. And, you know, they’re pretty good.


The above paragraph says it all if you ask me. Years back I was having alot of trouble sleeping and or feeling rested which just snowballed and I collapsed and ended up in hospital. Same thing was a workaholic. Anyhow really didnt get any help from my stay in hospital so i read the entire book about sleep deprivation from the mayo clinic and basically figured it out myself.  Bottom line its not the hours but how you feel when you get up.  Some people need 16 hours of sleep and there were people in there 70's getting only 15 minutes of sleep. The key is dong what you need to get to sleep properly and to get the right type of sleep.

Good Luck! I know it can be frustrating

[Cromacster]

I've always found this chart interesting. (sorry that it's so small)



Although with professional athletes I think it has a lot more to do with recovery from training.  Not to say us regular folk don't need sleep to recovery, but probably not 12 hrs every night.

[alex trebeck's mustache]

<insert joke in poor taste about what Tiger Woods was doing that prevented him from sleeping as much as the others on that list>

[sheepstache]

Word, OP.  Sleep is amazing.

[Jon_Snow]

In one month, my alarm clock will be silenced forever (except on the very rare occasion I may need to get up before my body wants to).

Been getting up at 4:30am during the work week for the past 24 years - WILL. NOT. MISS. THIS.

[Daisy]

I love and need adequate amounts of sleep. I don't function well without it. I will definitely not feel guilty about my need for sleep while FIRE'd.

The post above on how much athletes sleep is a nice bit of information to have at my disposal when people question my need for sleep. I didn't realize they were such big sleepers.

[HappierAtHome]

I love and need adequate amounts of sleep. I don't function well without it. I will definitely not feel guilty about my need for sleep while FIRE'd.

The post above on how much athletes sleep is a nice bit of information to have at my disposal when people question my need for sleep. I didn't realize they were such big sleepers.

+1. People often comment that I sleep 'too much' because I need a minimum of eight hours at night and as many naps as I can get.

I'm going to stop feeling guilty about it NOW.

[MikeBear]

I've worked 12 hour rotating shifts since 1992.  I just completed 3 night shifts this weekend, next I'll work Wednesday and Thursday 12 hour day shifts.  I have built in 8 hours of OT every 2 weeks.  I'll also be required to work additional 12 hour OT shifts as needed by the company each month.  The pay is good but hell on the body.  I'm perpetually tired and after over 22 years approaching burnout.   They say 7 is the new 8.  Heck I dream of 7 most days.
http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/the-fit-list/You-Cant-Get-Too-Much-Sleep.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebookpost

I work in a group where we do the same thing with 12 hour shifts. 24/7/365 with 4 people (actually we have 5, one is a "floater" to drop into place if anybody calls in sick). We run a 2-3-2 schedule. Two people partner, shift 1 is: 6am-6pm, then the other person does 6pm - 6am. First week we work: Monday, then Tuesday, then OFF work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Then Work Saturday, and Sunday = 48 hours (8 of them OT) Next week we have Monday, and Tuesday OFF, work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, then Saturday and Sunday OFF = 36 hours.

The other 2 partner shift works the opposite schedule to that. IE: The first week they work the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. The second week they work the Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday.

I did that starting in February 2008. Every 4 months we'd switch from Days to Nights. Always was a bitch to me, and permanent jet-lag. Two years ago we finally talked our manager into permanent day and night shifts. The people that want to stay on days do, and same for the people at night. I am a night person. I stay on that schedule even on my nights OFF. I go to bed when I get home, sleep 7 hours, and get up to spend a few hours doing what I want before going to work (on a working night) I no longer have permanent jet-lag, and apparently do well emulating a vampire schedule.

[dragoncar]

Word

[Bateaux]

Jet lag is a perfect way to describe the zombie you become when swapping from days to nights every freaking week.  I wish we did a month of nights then a month of days.  Even just staying permanent nights like you would be better.  I'm a night owl as.well.
I'm considering trying an offshore oil rig job where you work 28 days or nights in a row then you are off for 28 days before returning.  I'd love the long stretch off.