Every job has its own timing, but my new hotel job has totally changed my whole day and night. Everything is upside down now.Starting this week, my manager put me on a permanent night shift—6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Honestly, when I first saw those hours on paper, I panicked a bit. Staying awake all night in a completely dead, quiet hotel lobby felt like an exhausting nightmare.
But just today, things clicked differently. The night shift actually has a pretty unique vibe to it.I got to the hotel right at sunset, and it felt a bit weird but nice. The evening rush was just starting, people were arriving one after the other, and the lobby was full of sound. There I was, standing behind the counter, trying to manage ten things at the same time.
But right in the middle of the busy hours, the call for Maghrib prayer started from a nearby mosque. At my old clothing market job, taking a break for prayer was a luxury I rarely got. The owner always grumbled if I left the counter. But here, my senior manager looked at me and said, "Go, wash up and pray. We will cover the desk." Man, that moment hit me right in the heart. Finding a workplace that respects your faith is a blessing you cannot buy with money.
I went to the staff prayer room, put my forehead on the ground, and just thanked Allah Pak for pulling me out of that old toxic place.By 10:00 PM, the lobby became completely quiet. The big lights were turned down, and the whole atmosphere felt so peaceful. This is when the hotel kitchen staff called me for dinner. Since I live alone in a small rented quarter, cooking for one person is always a headache. But part of my job benefit is that I get my meals directly from the hotel kitchen. Sitting down with the night guards and kitchen crew to eat hot, fresh food felt like sitting with family.
We laughed over small jokes, and for a moment, I forgot that I was miles away from my actual home.The hardest part of the night shift comes around 3:00 AM. That is when your body deeply begs for sleep. Your eyes feel heavy, and the silence of the lobby starts to feel loud. To stay awake, I stepped outside into the cool night air for a few minutes, looked at the quiet Lahore sky, and thought about my family.
I reminded myself why I am standing here at this hour. I am here to build a permanent roof for them. That thought immediately gave me a fresh wave of energy. I went back inside, made myself a cup of strong black tea, and stood straight back at my post.
By the time the clock struck 5:00 AM, the first light of dawn started to break.
Finally, the morning shift people came and my long night ended. I walked back to my room at 6:00 AM. The whole city was just waking up. Honestly, my body was completely tired, but I didn't feel bad at all. I just felt happy and peaceful inside.
I survived my first proper night shift, kept my prayers on time, and earned my honest living with respect.
Have you ever worked a night shift in your life?How do you guys handle your sleep when your shift changes like this? Please share your tips or any night-shift stories in the comments below, I would love to read them!
