Late Night
smbrink
Posts: 406 ✭
Any other insomniacs/late sleepers out there??
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smbrink
Posts: 406 ✭
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Don't have to work tommorow so that keeps me up a little later
The sleep docs tell me mine's technically not an insomnia, but Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. That is, I go to sleep every night, and sleep through the night without waking, so it isn't insomnia. I'm getting a normal amount of sleep. I just can't get it during the same hours most everybody else does. My sleep phase is delayed. There's an opposite one called Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome, where people fall asleep at, like, 6 p.m., and wake up ready to go at 2 a.m. They found the gene that causes that one, not long ago.
I just got home from work.
I work a strange schedule too, I pull into the PD parking lot around 4:15 am and load up to head home around 4:30pm. 12 hour shifts but we work 4 on, then 3 off, then 3 on, then 4 off. It works out well. My usual days are Wed, thurs, and friday, then every other saturday. It took a little while to get used to, but it works out great. Every other week on my 4 days off it is like a mini vacation.
As for work, I write software. That's an industry that can provide flexible work hours, if the company is willing. I just make sure that whenever I go on a job interview, and there seems to be interest on both sides, I tell them I have a sleep disorder and I'll need flexible hours. So far, so good.
I have had to turn down offers, though, because, apparently, the people thought I was kidding or just using that as a bargaining chip. I get the callback and they say, hey, we'd love to have you but we need you here during normal hours. I say, thanks, I'd like to work for you, but I already know I can't keep normal hours and I'm not going to put myself in a position where that becomes a problem. I've even had people call back and offer more money, as if that's somehow going to change my circadian rhythm.
Also, once I'm working somewhere, I try to keep the flexibility mutual. Since they're being flexible with me, I'm flexible with them. I don't take vacation days around holidays, when everybody else does and managers are scrambling to find enough people to have coverage. If something needs to be done late at night or on the weekend, I'll happily volunteer to do it. Stuff like that.
I work about 10 or so hours a day. I go to bed around 10pm and get up around 7am, still though I love sleep and probably get too much. Though I stay up late on the weekends.