Changes
About 6 months ago, I bid from my old department on second shift to a new department on 3rd shift. The last few years on second shift had been difficult. Under normal circumstances, you basically have no time for friends or family as normal people work a 1st shift schedule and there is no overlap of time. Even dating, had I wanted to do it, seemed like it would just be too difficult to even attempt unless that person worked second shift as well. I would go full weeks sometimes where my only human interactions outside of work were the people at the Dandy/Running the Drive Thru, the Women at the bank and the family dog. It didn't help that I worked so many 7 day weeks and couldn't plan on doing anything without at least 2 to 3 weeks of notice so that I could guarantee a certain weekend off.
Being on third shift now my life is quite different. I have guaranteed time off every week, which is nice. I have a social life where I actually tend to hang out with people once a week for Pathfinder (DnD). Plus I get to see my parents and nephews a lot more. While this is all nice, I feel like I am only getting a taste of the freedom I have wanted and expected. For the first time in a long time I am craving more. I want to go out to eat at a restaurant or something. Maybe take a trip or go on a vacation. At this point in my life, I definitely have the means and opportunity to do such things, but unfortunately I don't want to do them by myself and at my age all my friends tend to be bogged down by either life, work or family. I'm in the situation I wish I was in 10-15 years ago. Even though I have a lot of good years left in me, I feel like I've wasted my best years on a job. As someone that literally feels more alone in a crowd than I do by myself, I almost feel lonelier now that I get some social interaction.
That all being said, I'm definitely happier now. I like my job better, I like the hours better, I don't necessarily like being on a rotating days off schedule, but I like the guaranteed time off every week. Overall, I'm definitely in a better place than I have been in a long time, but I'm beginning to regret not making a change quicker.
Being on third shift now my life is quite different. I have guaranteed time off every week, which is nice. I have a social life where I actually tend to hang out with people once a week for Pathfinder (DnD). Plus I get to see my parents and nephews a lot more. While this is all nice, I feel like I am only getting a taste of the freedom I have wanted and expected. For the first time in a long time I am craving more. I want to go out to eat at a restaurant or something. Maybe take a trip or go on a vacation. At this point in my life, I definitely have the means and opportunity to do such things, but unfortunately I don't want to do them by myself and at my age all my friends tend to be bogged down by either life, work or family. I'm in the situation I wish I was in 10-15 years ago. Even though I have a lot of good years left in me, I feel like I've wasted my best years on a job. As someone that literally feels more alone in a crowd than I do by myself, I almost feel lonelier now that I get some social interaction.
That all being said, I'm definitely happier now. I like my job better, I like the hours better, I don't necessarily like being on a rotating days off schedule, but I like the guaranteed time off every week. Overall, I'm definitely in a better place than I have been in a long time, but I'm beginning to regret not making a change quicker.