Sleep

I used to work the graveyard shift. At first it was 11pm to 7am, and then it switched to a "true" graveyard shift: midnight to 8am. I worked this shift for four years. And I loved it. Sure, it was hard sometimes getting home at 8:15am, and having to sleep in 90 degree heat with high humidy and the bright sun shining down. But just crank on the fan, put a blanket over the windows and put some earplugs in, and sleep was possible.

I like the midnight shift because it was quiet. There was a small shift on during that time, but compared to the couple thousand that worked there during the day and swing shifts, a hundred or so employees was small. So I could walk around the majority of the plant in the dark, by myself, with only my footsteps and breathing as the only noises around. And on the weekends, it was even quieter, 'cause then there was no workforce there but us security guards.

And unlike working "normal" hours, after I got off shift, I could still do stuff. I could make doctor appointments, take my car to the mechanic, and even go to school without having to take time off from work.

Part of me misses walking around in the dark, listening to the crickets and the soltitude.

The day I quit work, I was still on a midnight shift sleep cycle. I went home and slept during the day. It didn't take me long to switch back to a "normal" sleep cycle, but it did take me long to get used to the sun being out, all the people and the buzz of the day.

I don't think I'm still totally used to it yet, part of me will always be a midnighter.