Hello!

Longtime lurker with a question for you nightshifters!

My husband works nights (hence why I joined the group). But we are on opposite shifts and have a toddler. Not only are we opposite shifts, but i work a fixed schedule and he works a 4 on 4 off so our days off dont match up very often.

I was just curious, for those of you with kids and spouses on a different shift, how do you guys keep the spark alive/make the family dynamic flow?

I tried night shift for a few weeks and I couldn’t handle it mentally so I had to quit. Feeling down on myself like I failed, any words of affirmation?

I work overnights 11pm-7am and during the week i sleep pretty regular around 10am-12 and wake up 4-5pm and everything is good but when weekends come i try to sleep early like before 3am and cant. I dont want to stay up all night bc then i will just sleep most of my sunday away and sucks. I take melatonin and magnesium but dont seem to work i stay up til like 6-7am.

What would people advise me to do?

I could go into severe debt to buy a condo within walking distance to my job - this would improve my health and physical shape but would put my family in risk financially.

Right now I am financially very stable, but have a long commute, not healthy, and hate my life.

Also, with gas prices, I am wondering if avoiding driving would be a good idea vs buying a plug in hybrid?