ALT-3 Surviving the Graveyard Shift
It's my first graveyard shift since I got hired five months ago. I decided to change from afternoon shift because of the heavy traffic that I encounter twice everyday. My superior allowed me to change my shift and have a two-hour flexible time of logging in. So here I am on a Monday night, working until 4:30 in the morning. Working? I'd have to question myself on that as I write down this article. If I am working, then why am I writing this down?
My first graveyard shift is somewhat like a no-work-shift. Maybe it's just for now since my full workload hasn't been transferred completely. And so, I have to wait until at least one email appears on my inbox for a query or update on the tasks I've accomplished last week, or if my co-workers ask for some help.
I guess I'd have to wait for my break as I sip my coffee which I intended to be strong to keep me awake all night. As I learn to survive my first night in graveyard shift, I thought of listing down a few things to keep me awake other than supplying my system with caffeine.
Unfortunately, this is only for the office-based, computer and Internet dependent workers, who like me, would want to take a little nap before kissing the keyboard, I mean accidentally falling asleep in an improper and humiliating way.
1. Set your mind that you are in the office to work. Never mind that you have already been yawning on your way to work, and until now that you are actually making yourself an asset and not a liability to your company.
2. I will no longer tell you to keep a mug of coffee on your desk because you probably have it already.
3. To lessen your yawning before it becomes a habit, try the breathing exercise.
4. If breathing exercise doesn't work, try massaging your fingers. According to a booklet in reflexology at home, massaging your fingers and pinching your fingertips will awaken your brain to help you keep awake, or something like that.
5. Eating, as people from graveyard shift say, helps them to be awake. However, if you're munching of junk foods, no doctor will tell you that, "Go ahead, continue doing so!" So before you gain extra pounds that you won't even be able to lose, try not to love artificial foods too much.
6. If you've done all your tasks, and you still have five more hours to stay in the office, then you have nothing more to do! That's great! Easy job, eh? But this is graveyard. It's way different at daytime or early night even if you're also doing nothing. The night teases your eyelids to close a little longer. Stop! Do not ever be tempted or you'll suffer the consequence of getting a memo. If you have nothing else to do, maybe it wouldn't be bad if you keep in touch with your contacts on your private email. Read the messages and empty your junk/bulk folders, delete chain emails, and the advertisements that mean nothing than occupying space in your inbox.
7. Make a rundown on your company emails to make sure you didn't miss out anything. This will also make you busy. Wow! You're co-workers wouldn't think you're just pretending to be loaded.
8. If you are already making something that is not related to work, for example writing an article like this, make sure you occasionally view the systems or programs which you use, just like the number 7.
9. Have a break. Consume your break-time. Guess you don't need to be told about this.
10. You survived! Before you know it, it's time for you to go home already. Sleep a little longer so that you'll be up for another graveyard shift.
