Can relate all too well. Had one rotation that was (12-hr shifts) 2 days on 1 1/2 days off, 2 mids on, 2 1/2 off. Someone that didn't work that rotation tried to convince us that it was great because of all the time off.
All that time feeling like a zombie, but unable to sleep because it's purple o'clock?
I'm trying to cut down on caffeine personally, I feel like I'm very slow getting up in the morning. Then again you have to expect that on a Monday I suppose...
Caffeine is on the bottom of the list of things to cut from my life.
Worked the night shift (11-7) at Children's Medical Center in the ER as an ambulance driver paramedic during my college years. Whole different reality out there after the sun goes down.