OPINION: Working nights

by RACHEL RABIDEAU
Staff Writer

Class schedules can make it tricky to fit school and work into one day.

Because classes often span throughout the day, it can be hard to find a job that will accommodate your schedule. Just two classes spaced a couple of hours apart can eat up your whole day, making it impossible to cover a six-hour shift.

Night shifts can be a viable option for college students who want their job to cater to their school schedules. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all operation.

While some may cringe at the idea of waking up in the middle of the night to go to work, it’s actually not as difficult as it seems. Your body learns to adapt. Early wake-up times mean early bedtimes, just like late bedtimes mean late wake-up times. If you’re a coffee drinker, it just means that your daily cup of joe might come a few hours earlier than your neighbor’s. It’s not quite the endeavor that some make it out to be.

The early bedtime.

While working nights may be practical for school, it can be difficult socially. It’s difficult to have to go to bed at 7 or 8 p.m. every night instead of 11 or 12 p.m., especially when your peers are still awake.
Just like any other life decision, there are pros and cons that have to be weighed. Is having an easy-to-schedule job worth giving up your nightlife?

After working all night, it can be tough to go home and get straight to class. It’s much kinder to yourself to schedule classes for later in the day so you can take a mid-morning nap. Of course, this would vary depending on what the start time for your job is, but sleeping during the day is surprisingly easy when your body knows you need it.

Many people claim that they can’t take naps because it’s too bright outside. This may be an intense approach, but the truth is that your body will do what it needs to do to stay running. It might take a week or two to adjust, but your circadian rhythm will bounce back.

Another point to consider about working nights is that dinner time no longer comes at 6 p.m. After your shift, you might find yourself craving pasta instead of a morning smoothie. This has seemed to help my food cravings throughout the day because by eating carbs before class, I don’t feel the need to continue snacking.

The “good morning” of night shifts.

Night shift workers had better get used to having over half the day be “morning”. It’s morning when you leave for your shift and when you get home after work and your roommates are just waking up, and also when you get up from your nap (if you choose to take one.) It’s basically a never-ending cycle of bedhead and brushing your teeth. This is just another sacrifice made to free up your school day.

If you’re like me and found yourself having to take half your classes in the afternoon and the other half in the evening, finding a job that accommodates your schedule can be tricky — until you consider the third shift! If you’re okay with a permanent bedhead, then working nights can be a great way to get extra work hours while staying a busy student.

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