Oh my, I was a bit reluctant to say but at least one or two of you out there have long sleep requirements like me so I feel a bit better. I need (and usually get) 9 hours, but can function with 8. 7 hours starts getting sketchy, and any less than that and I will feel physically ill as well as incredibly mentally scattered (and need to make up the missed sleep time, too). I take a long time to wake up in the morning, but can fall asleep at the drop of a pin and sleep through most anything

EDIT: Regarding getting dressed for those early shifts, I think perhaps coming up with several outfits at the start of the week could work. That way you could wear whichever one that you're in the mood for to satisfy your eclectic leanings.

Don't know anymore. Like TCS my sleep is so disrupted, and I have to get up at 5:45 to make the train etc. I'm trying for bed by 10:30 but I'm a night owl!

Weekends are more my preference, and I'm in bed my midnight. I'm usually up hourly until 3ish, then down for the count until 8-9. If I could get 6-7 hours uninterrupted sleep, I'd be in heaven.

And yes, lunches made the night before. Clothes picked out in advance.

Reading this with interest. I am a huge night owl and chronic "no sleeper". I used to be able to stay up for 24+hrs straight no prob --- now, not as much, although I can still do it. I regularly function with only 4-6 hrs of sleep though. Its not good for me, I know, and I tend to drag, but I can function. I live for those times I can try to catch up on sleep, however.
In a perfect world, I'd work from like noon to 8-9pm, but even with working from home, that doesnt usually work out since I normally meet with folks on more regular schedules...and I have a family I want to see, lol!
I will say that I ALWAYS sleep in until the last possible moment, which is one of the reasons I need to get my wardrobe to a better place. I end up with outsifts I dont like because I am in a hurry.

I used to be a night owl . . . My daughter cured me of that as she is a morning bird!

I prefer at least 7 hours of sleep. Lately, though, it feels like my body really wants 12. Although I suppose that is because my sleep is so ephemeral at the moment.

The first year after DD was born, I set my clothes out the night before. And I established a "uniform" so it could be super easy when I needed it to be (and I almost always did).

Ah, the mum juggle!
I have to get up really early one morning a week, and then I stay away that night as well, returning home the following day. So the only way I can manage this is to get ready the day before. I check the weather, lay out my clothes for day one at the end of the bed, and pack the clothes for day 2 in the bag. Then, quick shower and pop on the clothes, and I am out the door. And I agree no fuss clothes are best. Nothing that needs too much fussy tucking or fiddling, and nothing I haven't tried before!
The other mornings are more relaxed, thank goodness....

Una, you must prep your outfit the night before. It's truly the only way. And do things that help you wind down at night.

I function well on 6 hrs of good sleep a night. 7 is better, but that rarely happens. 5 is fine too, but not ideal for long stretches of time.

I survived on less than 6 hrs sleep several times a week for the past 5 years, until we moved last month...insert big cheer lol

I cooked on weekends for a couple 'do ahead' dinners so my evening was more productive than work, dinner, chores and bed.

I also knew my 'in office days' so I laid out several outfits, completely, shoes, jewellery, belts, undies, everything. Several options gave me a choice if I didn't feel like it or weather dictated a change of outfit

I have no wise words except I napped weekends, had a cleaning lady and had the kids do some of their laundry. I also have super short hair that I barely dry and looks ok with a smidge of product.

Take care of yourself, I think shorting yourself of sleep makes you more prone to illness

Very interesting topic! I need 7 hours of sleep a night and if I don't get enough time to sleep, I sleep in and I end up rushing in the morning and sometimes doing a sloppy job with my makeup LOL

Una, my question was like Sharan's -- at least does the schedule rotate on a regular basis? Because if not....that kind of shift work is hell on anyone's system. No matter what! Never mind the fashion issues.

For myself, 7 hours is perfect. I can do well on 7 for 5 days a week and 6 for two days. Or I can add an hour or so once in a while.

Do I always get it? My Fitbit tells me I do...but I'm suspicious. I'm often awake when the machine thinks I am not awake. I guess at least I am lying relatively still.

My solution to super early mornings, when I have had them: lay the outfit out the night before. Plan it on the weekend if possible. (Weather doesn't always allow that....but that is what FFBO are for.)

I can never manage to make lunched the night before -- they are gross by morning. So that does not work for me or my kiddo. Instead, if I have to be the early one out the door, Mr. Suz does the lunch duty for DD.

They are both early birds and I am a night owl...DD is now a teen so has morphed into that hybrid creature, the sleeping in early bird who also wants to burn the midnight oil -- which means there are no moments when she might not need me. Coming up soon to you if your son is 11.

Una, I don't work different shifts but I do need 7 hours sleep. In fact I have recently realised how important it is to me in terms of how I feel and my general well being. Like you, I can be a night owl. After work is usually a very child focussed time, then we have a dinner as family every night (or at least most) and then catch up time with DH and then some quiet time for me... it's usually late by then. I am however excercising some self discipline and have made a commitment to myself to be in bed by 10. It allows me some reading time and then sleep:)

Angie's suggestion to prep outfits the night before is great and I often do that if I have an early start (once or twice a month I travel for work and it's always an early morning) but generally I find it difficult. I am a mood dresser to it's difficult for me to plan the night before... because I might change my mind in the morning

Keeping my wardrobe in good shape does make it easier and I certainly have my fall back outfits on mornings when I don't have the time or the capacity to think:)

Without 7 hours I am a wreck and more is better. I go to bed early and wake up early. I don't get dressed for hours after I wake up though.

Thanks everyone! I see many other night owls and tired Fabbers here with great advice. Clearly the evening preparation is key, and I am going to do that more consistently.

Suz and Sharan, the schedule is sort of consistent but not always as we shift depending on people's vacation plans and other scheduling issues. It does wreak havoc not only with sleep but with trying to set an exercise routine, proper eating habits, and any other activity that requires consistency. In fact, a friend told me that ER nurses often set up mini-schedules for their different rotations - like spin class on days they can take lunch, a walk if they have an evening free, or early morning yoga if they have open mornings.

May we all get a good night's rest!

Oh lordy-- I feel you, Una! I am one that needs many hours to feel rested (10 is the best, I usually get between 6 and 8, and when allowed to sleep uninterupted after not having 10 hour nights for awhile I will sleep 12-14). I didn't used to be that way, was a minimal sleeper, but I deal with a lot of fatigue with the heart condition and it takes it out of me, even though I'm still not a napper.

My SO works shift work-- currently they work 3 on 4 off, 4 on 3 off and 12 hour shifts. His workplace is sorta between towns, so he has at least a 30 min commute and has to be all prepped and ready to relieve someone before his shift starts. Currently he is working 6 to 6, so he is up at 4:45 to be out the door at 5:15 or so. Then he gets home about 6:45 and is in bed by 8:30. We don't live together but I usually stay over a couple nights a week. His commute used to actually be 15 min longer each way, so it was worse. Currently he has a low maintenance hair and facial hair style, showers at night, lays clothes out the night before, and we cook on the weekends and he eats several types of leftovers most weeks. That said, while he is working the dishes don't get done and all housework stops until the weekend, he usually can't run errands, etc. When we aren't at the same house we don't have an opportunity to talk even. He has no pets and can't although he'd like too because he is gone too long on his work days. It isn't uncommon for him to have to work 6 days straight of 12s, either. As rough as it is on him, I think it is harder on me. I'm not great at ,being settled enough to sleep at 8, but his current place is not set up for 2 that work opposite shifts. The bedroom is small, in the front of the house, and near the front door and the living room and there are a lot of creaks and squeaks and the neighborhood is very quiet so him moving wakes me. So, I'm up at 4:30, and he is usually still up by 6 on weekends. The rest of the year he works graveyard shift (6p to 6a) and comes up for air at 3pm on weekends, but I try to stay up to at least midnight so we get to spend 8 waking hours in common.

Good grief, Elly - I can't even imagine how you coordinate that! It must be exhausting. 10 hours of sleep sounds heavenly.... I dream of sleeping that much.

So I am wondering why lawyers need to be scheduled to work through the night?

Actually Una, your question about getting dressed in the dark is one I have been meaning to ask for ages. I get up before DH and don't want to turn the light on in the bedroom. I can however turn the wardrobe light on without bothering him, but sometimes finding something in the drawers in the bedroom is hard. But I find it hard to think of outfits the night before apart from workout gear. But the minimal wardrobe sure helps!

As to how much sleep. I love 8 but rarely get it on weekdays, can manage 9 on weekends, and often make do on 6 to 61/2 - but am apt to crash if I do it for too long. Am also quite a yawner at work and prone to falling asleep at my desk (you know that thing where your head jerks you awake again) and at talks!! I am a moderate night owl but like to get up earlier than the last minute to have a smooth and unrushed morning and am willing to get up to exercise if that is the only time it will happen - until I crash with tiredness from the early mornings. It is a bad mix with having a household where we have people over til 10 10.30 at night one to 2 school nights a week which takes me an hour to unwind from.

Anne, it's a specific requirement of my particular job - there is 24/7 phone coverage.

This morning I woke up SICK. Sniffles, fever, sore throat. I really think we all have our unique sleep patterns and mine is definitely the night owl. Thankfully, I took all the advice here to pick out clothes the night before, so at least I have on a fab outfit - plaid Kuts (the grey and red ones Suz has), dark red oxfords, long grey cardi.