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Are you a morning person? Is work-life balance a major priority for you? If you are thinking yes for an answer, then definitely you need to get familiar with the concept of first shift. Besides, nowadays, many of us are becoming very health conscious too, hence the first shift is becoming people’s choice & priority too.
What is a First Shift: Definition
The first shift refers to the ‘day shift’ of working hours where employees get to finish their job between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is one of the prominent shifts followed across the globe. It is also referred to as the ‘morning shift’.
First Shift Hours
First shift hours typically range between 8-9 a.m. to 4-5 p.m. It is also referred to as morning shift hours or day shift hours. Employees on average work 8 hours a day in the first shift. However, there are first shifts wherein employees are required to arrive an hour or two early. For example, the hospitality sector calls for early arrival (1-2 hours earlier) of employees, as beforehand preparations need to be done before customers start arriving.
Therefore, first shift hours are also categorized further into two – early first-shift hours, starting between 5 a.m. & 7 a.m. Whereas the traditional first-shift hours start around 8-9 a.m.
First Shift Jobs
To provide you with a better idea of how does first shift jobs look like, below is a list of some first-shift jobs:
- Postal employees
- Construction workers
- Coffee shop & bakery employees
- Store & hotel managers
- Pharmacists
- Office workers
- Electricians, plumbers, and cleaning staff
The list is not limited to what is mentioned above.
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Benefits of First Shift
Though benefits of first shift are many, but below are mentioned some major benefits that allure an individual to opt to work in the first shift:
- Aligns with body’s natural clock
- Boosts work motivation
- Lets you do better planning for the week ahead
- Enhances productivity
- Provides work-life balance
Let’s learn in detail about the benefits provided by the first shift.
Aligns with the Body’s Natural Clock
As per research on shift work hazards (2023), people who work during nights, weekends, and evenings tend to disrupt their natural sleep-wake cycle.
MD at Festoon House, Matt Little says “First of all, first shift hours help with your mental and physical health. Second, a good first shift can help your body’s natural circadian rhythm. A good night’s sleep is good for your overall health, so you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready to go.”
Additionally, as per research in 2021, it was found that first-shift nurses were more relaxed & calm than their night-shift counterparts.
There is a difference between the cortisol levels of colleagues working in the first shift and those working in night shifts. Cortisone is nothing but a hormone that affects the body’s natural clock.
Boosts Work Motivation
A 2022 research on non-standard work time says that employees working in the first shift have more intrinsic motivation to work rather than the ones who are working in non-standard hours.
To put it simple, employees who are available after 9a.m. – 5p.m. can give more & quality time to their family. This gives the employees an inner satisfaction and motivation to come at work everyday, rather than the ones who are working during their family time.
Lets You do Better Planning for the Week Ahead
Planning is a very crucial step in successful execution of a task. Benjamin Franklin says “ By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
A manufacturing consultant at Levantar, Mark Greenhouse states “You get to think about the shift and the week ahead. Is there any training coming up? Are key staff on holidays? Any important sales visits taking place? Are there any key reports and audits to be produced, are these all planned in?”
To put it in a nutshell, the first shift does wonders when it comes to planning ahead of schedules & hence resulting in delivering great results at work.
Enhances Productivity
A study in the Entrepreneur magazine (2023) states that employee creativity is highest in the night whereas the productivity delivered is at the peak during day time.
The founder of Perfect Locks, Priyanka Swamy speaks upon starting the work early “Our brains work best in the morning when we’re more alert and focused. This means you’ll be able to tackle difficult tasks with a fresh set of eyes, potentially resulting in better work quality. It’s like riding a natural wave of energy that sets the mood for the rest of the day.”
Besides, a security expert Eugene Klimaszewski agrees on the same thought process stating “Clear-headed beginnings: That peaceful morning atmosphere? It’s like a secret weapon. It sharpens my thoughts and lets me dive deep into work without the usual distractions.”
Provides Work-life Balance
Maintaining mental peace in mind means taking time-off in your everyday work life. First shift jobs leave scopes for me-time after a hectic schedule of work everyday.
The CEO of Klipboard, Draven McConville states “The first shift entails integrating your life with the outside environment. Most of your buddies clock out at the same time as you, so you can stop using the ’sorry, I’m working’ defense. Like everyone else, you get to enjoy your evenings while telling tales and making memories. It’s the gratifying sensation of synchronization with life’s beat.”
Again Eugene Klimaszewski gives his opinion on work-life balance, which says
“Wrapping up early means my evenings aren’t all about work. From family time to that new book I’ve been meaning to read — it’s Eugene Time.”
Drawbacks of Working in the First Shift
Needless to say, there are two aspects of a thing. Having learnt about benefits of working in the first shift, let’s explore the drawbacks of working in the first shift:
- Less opportunities for pay raises
- Possibility of getting stuck in traffic
- Lack of quick team communication
- Difficult for night owls
Less Opportunities for Pay Raises
Generally, employees (As per US office of human resource management) working in the night shift are extra compensated. This is called night pay differential. Workers are paid 10% extra on what they are already paid.
On the contrary, first shift employers are kept away from any such compensation.
Possibility of Getting Stuck in Traffic
First shift is generally fast-paced in nature. Employees working in this shift are in a hurry to reach to the office on time, park their vehicles on favorite spot, and what not.
Draven McConville says “ Being on the first shift will probably put you in the middle of rush hour traffic, which can be really annoying if you live far from your place of employment. We all experience the daily challenge of squeezing past a sea of brake lights, which puts your patience and radio station preferences to the test.”
Difficult for Night Owls
If you have a constant problem waking up early in the morning & start your day, then probably night shifts suit you the best.
Entrepreneur Priyanka Swamy opined by saying “If you’re not a morning person by nature, it’s no surprise that waking up early can be a challenge. Your body’s natural circadian rhythm may take a bit of time to adjust to this new way of waking up. That initial groggy feeling can make it difficult to feel fully awake and alert, especially at the start of the day.”
Tips for Productive First Shift
Having learned about first shift, its benefits & drawbacks, if you are aspiring to either start working in first shift or struggle to deliver productive results during first shift, below are mentioned some results-oriented tips for productive first shift:
- Prioritize time management
- Create a morning routine
- Reduce the practice of staying up too late
- Focus on healthy eating
- Foster a positive work environment
Prioritize Time Management
If you are not a morning person, but compelled to do the first shift or simply time management is not your thing – prioritizing & learning time management is for both. Jeff Mains, CEO of Champion Leadership Group LLC says “Effective time management is key. Implementing well-defined processes, prioritizing tasks, and leveraging technology can streamline operations and reduce stress. Encourage your team to use productivity tools and techniques like the Pomodoro technique or project management software to maximize efficiency.”
Besides, you can also use time management tools like Desktrack.
Desktrack’s features like calculating working hours fit the purpose of time management for employees.
Create a Morning Routine
Delivering productive results in first shift calls for preparing the day prior to starting it off. On top of that, you should be preparing yourself physically and mentally both for starting a new day. It not only makes you feel confident before going to work, but would channelize your inner energy in a right & defined direction.
As per an article in New York Times, one should meditate before starting work, even if it is for a few minutes. Indeed 3 minutes is just ok.
For example, you can start meditating by focusing on your breath. Inhale by saying ‘in’ & exhale by saying ‘out’.
On this, Matt Little says “To make the first part of your day easier, make the most of the sunrise with a few morning rituals. Eating a healthy breakfast, getting some exercise, and getting some sun in the morning are all great ways to start your day. Schedule your tasks the day before so you can get started right away.”
Reduce the Practice of Staying Up Too Late
Though we all need a different amount of sleep in our daily routine. However, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention suggests more than 7 hours of sleep for adults everyday, in order to stay refreshed & alert.
Additionally, National Sleep foundation in US suggests for 7-9 hours of sleep for adults between 18 – 64 of age.
Again, Priyanka Swamy opinionated by saying “A good night’s sleep is essential for a restful and productive day. Develop a regular sleep routine and a relaxing pre-sleep routine to tell your body when it’s time to sleep. Avoiding screen time before bed and creating a comfortable and restful sleeping environment can go a long way toward improving sleep quality.”
Focus on Healthy Eating
Let’s be honest. Don’t we all know how healthy eating impacts our overall well-being? We do. So, to inspire ourselves, let’s see what successful folks have to say on this:
Draven McConville says “With a healthy breakfast to energize your body and stimulate your mind, let your morning routine be the crescendo as the sun rises. It’s the crucial buildup to a brilliant day.”
Health expert at Nutrition Insights LLC, Kelsey Costa suggests what should be eaten as a healthy diet, “A balanced breakfast should include a mix of fiber-rich carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. To ensure all macros are well-represented, consider options such as eggs, avocados, soy products, nut butter or nuts, seeds, hummus, low-fat Greek yogurt, oatmeal, chia seeds, berries, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and sprouted grain toast.”
She also suggests what should not be eaten “Avoid highly processed foods like store-bought muffins and scones, white bread, instant oatmeal, ’fruit-on-the-bottom’ yogurt, processed meats (like bacon and sausage), and low-fiber cereals. These selections are usually high in added sugar or unhealthy fats and low in essential nutrients, which can lead to inflammation, energy crashes, and hunger pangs before noon.”
Foster a Positive Work Environment
Again, when it comes to the workplace, it doesn’t matter how much you are working on yourself, in a right direction. After all, being at peace and happy at the workplace is a teamwork. Therefore, to turn your first shift in a productive period, it takes another effort to create a positive & harmonious environment around you.
On fostering a positive work environment, Jeff Mains says “To make the first shift more comfortable and productive, it’s crucial to foster a positive work environment. This begins with strong leadership that sets clear expectations, provides support, and encourages open communication. Employees should feel valued and heard, which in turn boosts morale and motivation.”
Managers or seniors at the workplace should extend a helping hand, empathize when mistakes are made, etc.
Wrapping Up!
am sure that making this major decision regarding your work life has become simpler than before. Besides, in order to boost productivity, monitoring your employee’s performance, and tracking time can all be seamlessly done by Desktrack (my personal experience).
To learn more about its features & services, visit https://desktrack.timentask.com/.
