I need your advice....

kiddos are 16 and 9! So no babies to contend with!

Thank you Rose_Queen! REading it now!

I used 6 do 6 in a row or as close to it as possible to ensure a nice long block of time off without out trying to flip flop, was a little hectic at times with the kid's schedules but that 8 days off every other week was heaven lol

so omuch depends on how much support you get at home. I found it best to not do 3-12's in a row, so I could rest. But others prefer to work like that. I imagine the only way you will know for sure is to try one method and then another till you find your niche. All this is assuming you have a choice, of course.

My roomie works nights at the hospital and she prefers 3 12s in a row. This is because her sleep cycle gets too messed up otherwise.

She believed she could, so she did.

I usually work two off three. But every other week there's a work two off two. Did night shift for 14 years looking for a 9-5 job trust me night shift isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

The thing with nights is your going to have to figure out what works for you. I find that I can get into a few different sleep patterns, but no matter how much or how little sleep I get there will be times where I feel crappy at night. Don't rely on food or massive doses of caffeine to get by everyday. I have two cups of coffee a night. Excedrine migraine is my secret weapon, just a bit of caffeine and Tylenol to make me feel a bit better. Take your sleep seriously. Ear plugs, aluminum foil on the windows, no phone, and a routine such as 30min of reading before lights out. I find I work best with 6 hours of sleep, some need more. Good luck, realize it may take you a few months to get on track. Also understand that nights can be very damaging to your health and mental state. Keep an eye on yourself and be safe.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings