How I Survived Graveyard Shift (And Thrived): Dealer Edition

🔥 Share the fuego…

Let’s be real: working graveyard isn’t for the faint of heart.

It’s for the weirdos, the night warriors, the folks who know the best part of the casino happens after midnight. The suits are gone. The air gets thicker. The neon hits different. And if you’re not careful, the schedule will absolutely swallow your soul.

My schedule was 3am to 11am. That’s right, while most people were wrapped in cozy dreams, I was taking $100 bets from a guy named Big Tony who smelled like Drakkar Noir and regret.

I slept from 3pm to 10pm, woke up, got some things done, caffeinated with something that probably voided my warranty, and hit the gym at 12:30am. Then it was off to the casino trenches with my best poker face and a protein bar in my back pocket. I’d proceed to get more things done after work and then I was back in bed by 3pm at the latest. This wasn’t just a routine, it was a survival plan.

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Graveyard isn’t about being a night owl. It’s about being a structured night owl. Your body clock needs rhythm, not chaos. If you treat graveyard like a 9-to-5 (just… flipped and kind of weird), your body will eventually say, “Oh okay, I guess we’re doing this.”

Blackout curtains were my holy grail
Sleep mask? Yes. Brown noise machine? Double yes.
Always slept at the same time, even on my days off (no renegade partying for me)
Made sure I ate real food — vending machine burritos are not a personality
Stayed hydrated like it was a side hustle
Got some sun in the morning after my shift (even a few minutes counts)

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Your Body Is Your Instrument

If you’re dealing for eight hours, you’re standing, bending, reaching, smiling, dealing with people, and possibly dodging drunk confessions. Your body is working. So treat it like a performer would.

Stretch before work. Stretch after work. Go to the gym if you can. Walk if you can’t. Drink actual water. Eat real things. Your future knees will thank you. Your skin will thank you. Your dealer pants will probably still judge you, but that’s life.

Let’s also not pretend the casino lights are a substitute for daylight. Lack of sun can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which messes with your mood, immune system, and ability to give a crap about anything. I made it a point to step outside for a bit after each shift, even if it was just to stare dramatically at the sky and pretend I was in a music video.

This Sleep Foundation article was a lifesaver for understanding what my body was doing (or refusing to do). And if you’re into biohacking, I highly recommend researching circadian rhythm strategies.

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Embrace the Madness, Find Your People

Graveyard brings out a special kind of weird. It’s a time where sleep-deprived guests become philosophers, and coworkers become your accidental soulmates. It’s quieter, it’s weirder, and it’s honestly kind of beautiful if you know how to ride the chaos wave.

You will see things. You will hear things. And you’ll probably have stories no day shift dealer could ever dream of. That bond with your graveyard crew? Unmatched. We were feral. We were family. There’s something special about your grave crew. It’s a bond. A weird, beautiful family forged in strange hours and bizarre situations.

I met some of the funniest, most unfiltered souls in the dead of night. There’s a trust that builds when you’re all fighting sleep together while some drunk guy’s yelling about hot dogs at 4 AM.

Cherish those people. They get it.

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A few weeks ago, I transitioned to late day shift. While I still get to keep some of my nocturnal flair, the biggest joy is being able to sleep before the sun comes up. I feel more rested, more regulated, and a little less like a caffeine gremlin. It’s a lot easier to socialize with “normies” these days as well.

Still, I miss the graveyard gang. I miss the quiet chaos. I miss the random philosophical debates over stale coffee and the sense of being in on some secret the rest of the world doesn’t know about.

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If you’re heading into graveyard shift, don’t panic. Don’t assume you’re about to become a zombie. With the right structure, intention, and maybe a little flair, you can thrive. You can even glow… in the dark.

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Just remember:

🌙 Prioritize sleep
🛡️ Protect your energy
🏃‍♂️ Move your body
🥦 Eat more than just vending machine doughnuts and energy drinks
🌱 Touch grass wink (literally)
🤣 Find the humor in the madness

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Graveyard isn’t for everyone. However, if you’re a freak of the night like yours truly, own it.

And look damn good doing it.

🖤 gabro