September 29, 2011

Changing Shifts & Shifting Gears

The good news is that Nathan started a new job this week. The bad news? He works 3pm-11:30pm. He doesn't get home until I'm in bed and doesn't wake up until after I leave in the morning. Both our jobs are a half hour from home and 20 minutes from each other, so dropping by for lunch isn't going to happen either. In other words, we aren't going to be seeing much of each other.

This is going to be quite the transition. These last couple weeks before he started the job, I tried to make the most of our evenings, spending as much time with him as possible. I wasn't worried about things like dusting, reading, or blogging. Now, I'm going to be on my own each evening with plenty of time to get work done. But so far, I'm not doing much of anything. I've just been sitting around while the dishes pile up and the floors get dirtier and dirtier. I've gotten used to this relax mode I was in.

I need to figure out how to switch gears and restructure my time. My weekly chore schedule is going to need to change to make my Saturdays open. I'm thinking one day of intense cleaning, one day for intense cooking and baking, one day for shopping, and two days of light cleaning and whatever projects I want. We also need to figure out how to pack a week's worth of quality time into the weekends. We've been having date nights almost every Saturday since we've been married, but we'll need to make it a date day!

I'm thankful for this new job. I'm thankful we only had eight weeks with just my paycheck and didn't need to touch our emergency fund. I'm just not thrilled about this life change, and neither is Nathan.


Anyone have tips on how to survive working opposite shifts?


Check out more Try New Adventures Thursday at Alicia's Homemaking.

3 comments:

  1. Keep yourself busy. Since A and I see little of each other during the week (and half a day on Saturday), we always try to ask what the other needs us to do while we're home. If I'm at class, I'd like for A to do the dishes (there's rarely any hot water when I'm home in the evenings). When I'm home, A may ask me to clean off the table or do laundry. Specific tasks to accomplish before the other gets home.

    Hopefully this will just be a season. Yep - major adjustment. I didn't realize how difficult it would be for A to work evenings (typically 5 to 11 or 5 to 2 am) until it happened. I go to bed without A and wake up several hours before he does. It's rough, but doable.

    Counting blessings keeps me going. I'm thankful I have a husband willing to work and go to college at the same time. I'm thankful for his hard work while I'm at class. Goodness - I'm thankful I even have a husband right now!

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  2. I'm sorry to hear you have opposite shifts, but I'm sure you guys can make the most of your time together. My husband and I were on opposite shifts for a few weeks, and we just enjoyed the time we were together (the weekends) that much more. It actually made us appreciate each other way more. As Kayla said, hopefully this will just be a season :)

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  3. I wanted to chime in with a little encouragement. First, I am praying for your both. Second, my husband and I have dealt with this a few times. I have a "normal" work schedule (M-F 8-5) and his varies. Right now, his day off is Wednesday. It's hard, but we have adjusted. Like Kayla said, try to keep yourself occupied while he's gone. You can certainly get a lot done with focused alone time! I try to work on both household goals and my personal goals (like writing) when my husband is at work and I'm at home, so that when he gets home, we can spend the time together. Also like Kayla said, I try to focus on appreciating that I have a hard-working husband. It really does make you appreciate your spouse even more.

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