Anybody else work night shift and struggle with training?

I have been working as an RN on night shift for the past several months and it has started to kick my ass and take a toll. Just never have the energy to exercise during my days on. I work a stretch of 6 on, 8 off. I guess I'm just looking for any advice!

I know your pain. Night shift blows.

I'm assuming you work 12 hour shifts? I work a much shorter rotation; two on, two off, and every other weekend off. I typically only have time to workout core and upper body on the days I work for 30 minutes or so, but I'm usually able to climb every day I'm scheduled off. There are significant advantages to climbing around 12 hour shifts, but night shift is brutal. The first day off is usually a struggle. Best of luck.

I rotated days and nights for years in an ICU and was always fatigued when doing a stretch of nights. Switching to full time days is the best. Nights just make you tired and hungry.

I worked overnights for a few years, a few years ago. I still suffer from pretty bad insomnia.  If you're working 6 12s it can be hard to find the time.  I would just try and put in 30 to 60 minutes of exercise in before work. Just go with the mindset of something is better than nothing, don't be too hard on yourself.  I would also hangboard on doorframes at work. Drinking a lot of water on the overnight shift seemed to do amazing things for my overall mental and physical health.  On the plus side, working overnights really killed my appetite, so at least I was lean. 

I’d try and mix it up with some shorter stretches and some longer stretches, but I don’t think I’d do more than 4 in a row.
I never had any energy so running was tough to motivate for, so while I was working I’d concentrate on lifting and strength training and focus on cardio on my days off. It was still tough to drag my ass to the gym when I was working but I generally would feel better after the workout. 

Can you switch to 3 on 4 off? It's essentially 5 off if you point coffee right when you finish your last night and just go do something.

6 on is just too many days without training and you'll get deconditioned, no matter what you do on those 8 glorious days off.

And yeah, let's not even pretend you'll get a workout on the days you are on. We've all played that game in our heads. It won't happen.

when i was in my 20's i worked night shifts, about a month on month off, for maybe 5 years or so.  it had plusses and minuses.  i would usually work from 8 pm to 6 am, sleep from 7am to 10am, and then go climbing until about 6 pm.  about 1 day a week i would sleep for 20 hours.  it was kind of a horrific schedule, but i did a lot of climbing.

there is no way that i could do it now though.  every once in a while i will have to work night shifts and it feels like my life is literally being pulled out of my body.

Ughh I hated nights, sorry.  Make it a priority to get on days as soon as possible.  If there is a five year wait, seriously consider changing jobs to another place with a shorter wait or travel nursing.  Nights just isn't worth it if you value outdoor recreation.  ER nursing (what I do) has a higher turnover and overall shorter stay on the night shift.  I still managed to get in some good sends working nights so it is totally doable you just have to roll with the punches, try to get as much of a set schedule as possible.  Try to shoot for quality days out over quantity, if you plan to get out make sure you get plenty of rest beforehand so you you enjoy it and don't feel like a zombie. 

Been on swing and grave shifts for 12 years. It sucks. I'm not a morning person so waking up early never worked for me to train. I got a treadmill from a friend that no longer used it. A handful of random free weights over the years. Put up a hangboard. Training at night right after work was my solution. Get home and IMMEDIATELY get to it. If I sat down on the couch or cracked a beer I wasn't going to workout. Going on hikes at night was weird at first but its not that bad if you know the hike. This has worked for me. Good luck.