My job isn’t something I’ve really discussed here on my blog. In fact I don’t know if I have ever mentioned it. Hmm.
Anyways, for the last 6 years I have worked for a company that offers services to people with disabilities. I deal with people who are suffering from mental illness. So, there’s bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, and other illnesses. The division I work in is Supported Community Living (SCL), we are basically giving our individuals skills they need to eventually live on their own.
It can be a stressful job at times because there are days you just don’t know what to expect, but I will say that it can also be a very rewarding job.
When I started this job 6 years ago I used to work every shift for about a year. Then a full-time 3rd shift girl had a baby and I took over her position. So, for the last 5 years I have been working 3rd shift. Which is the easiest and most boring shift ever! My nights consist of a lot of Nick at Nite, reading, and catching up on blogs. I have very little interaction with the individuals and for a while, this was okay.
Then I started dating B-Fry, who isn’t a vampire and works during the day. So, this meant that I would want to stay awake with him on his weekends off which was hard on the weekends I had to work. I was living a double life. I’d sleep during the day if I had to work that night, but if I didn’t then I would stay up all day to be able to sleep next to B-Fry on my nights off. It really has taken a toll on my body.
Not to mention what it does for me in the trying to have a ‘normal’ schedule to keep up with this healthy lifestyle. But, I’ve done it. I’ve gripped a lot about it, but I’ve always done what I’ve had to do. Because let’s face it, there just isn’t much out there in the job market.
But about a month ago, I decided I couldn’t take it any longer. I practically begged my boss for first shift, telling her that I would do whatever I had to do to make it happen. I just couldn’t continue the way I had been. I was sleeping at odd times, when I could sleep. There were many nights/days where my body just couldn’t sleep. My poor body was just horribly confused. So, I knew that for my health and sanity, I needed to move to first shift and quit living as a vampire.
Well, last week I got the call! There was a first shift full-time opening and they were giving it to me! I was super excited to get that phone call and did a little dance.
Then my nerves kicked in and I got scared….
I’m used to working 3rd shift where I don’t do much. Where I do my paperwork while watching TV, read a lot, spend a lot of time surfing the web, and entertain the individuals if they’re suffering a bout of insomnia. Basically I’m used to keeping to myself and not having a lot of responsibility.
Now I’m moving to 1st shift where there’s A LOT more responsibility. I now will be interacting with individuals my entire shift. I’ll have 4-5 people to keep track of. Their appointments, money, meds, goals, and a million other things. I go to not doing much to being head staff in a house.
I know I can do it, but there’s that little voice that tells me that I’ll fail. That I’ll forget something and totally fuck up. That I’ll forget an appointment or screw up someone’s spending sheet. It scares me.
But, I’m going to shut that little voice up, because this is something that I really want! And I’m going to be awesome at it.
The move means great things. B-Fry and I will now be on the same schedule and I get to snuggle up to his cuteness every night. I feel like I’ll be a morning person and having a set schedule that works with the rest of the daytime working world will be something I’ll enjoy. Heck, maybe I’ll even get up and get my workouts in before work!
Tonight is pretty much my last 3rd shift. I will be working a couple next weekend until they train someone to fill my position fully. But, I’m excited to start at 8:00AM on Tuesday!
Now I must go to bed so I’m awake during the night for one of the last times!!
Are you a vampire? Does change freak you out?
