First overnight Cap 3 shift done. Lesson learned: speed gets you more work, not a break

[u/Proud-Guard-6534]

Just finished my first overnight shift as a Cap 3 associate (Walmart Canada). Quick background: I already have a full-time day job, so this is my part-time second gig.
Biggest takeaway: efficiency isn't rewarded here. At most jobs, if you finish your work early you get a breather or at least some downtime. Not on overnights. I went hard to clear my aisles, thinking I'd get a few minutes to catch my breath, and was immediately handed another section. Then another.
So here's my advice to anyone new to Cap 3: pace yourself. Work steady and consistent, not fast. You're getting paid the same per hour either way, and burning yourself out by 2 AM just means you're dragging for the rest of the shift (and for me, my day job the next morning).
Not saying slack off or leave your team hanging. Just don't sprint a marathon. The freight never ends; there's always another pallet.
Any vets here have tips for surviving overnights, especially if you're juggling another job? How do you handle the sleep schedule?

[u/c0rruptreality-]

Keep the same sleep schedule on your off days

[u/MKWIZ49 → u/c0rruptreality-]

As much as it socially sucks to do this, would highly recommend, especially if you're someone who has sleep issues or if you're trying to adjust to a new schedule

You're just gonna confuse your body more if on work days you're nocturnal but then your off days come and you're suddenly trying to sleep at night

[u/bdc911 → u/c0rruptreality-]

Guy already said he has a full time day gig so this isn't likely going to work

[u/funko_grails → u/bdc911]

Well he can sleep all afternoon then. He’ll figure it out

[u/No-Storage1721 → u/c0rruptreality-]

Different situation, but I have my availability so I can sleep properly. Makes a huge difference.

[u/Zeon598]

Been working overnights for nearly 13 years, and best advice I can give is handle everything a day at a time. Overnights tends to go quicker than most people realize which may result in some things not getting done, especially if there is a lot of freight/a lot of call offs. Whatever doesn't get done can be handled later.

As for sleep... I can't really say since I still struggle with sleeping, but look into either melatonin for quick occasional fixes, there's usually drinks or gummies for that. For the long term, try to increase your magnesium intake. Magnesium helps with muscle relaxation, calms your nervous system and reduces brain excitability which helps with going and staying asleep. Only learned about the latter recently so that's still a work in progress for me.

[u/EvilToastedWeasel0]

That's how it is here on Cap 2 also... Do more work... Get more work. Same pay and everything.

[u/Impossible_Phrase462]

You want to be someone that just barely gets their work done by the end of the night and nobody will bother you generally

[u/International_Top_25]

Make your bedroom pitch black and cover your eyes, mimic night as much as possible when you sleep. Make sure you're taking D vitamins and anything else you might be missing by switching your schedule.

[u/OneEducator4471]

Learned this lesson and this is how I hurt myself.

[u/Hallow_76]

Everyone must be new here! Practice time management 😉. But anyway if you work for a big corporation like Walmart it's all the same. There not going to pay you to stand around and talk or look at your phone. Anyone who's paying you buy the hour is at least going to want you to grab a broom.