Shift Work
Effects of shift work
Tips to help you sleep better
Tips to help maintain family and social life
Effects of shift work
Many shift workers:
- Report changes in their sleep pattern. When you work rotating shifts, your body clock is out of sync. You are trying to sleep when your body and its systems are waking up and you are trying to keep awake when your body and its systems are trying to sleep
- Have a higher accident rate at work
- Use alcohol and drugs to help them sleep
- Experience more digestive problems. You are often eating at a time when digestion is normally turned off. This can make you more likely to develop stomach problems like ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, or a weight problem
- Feel fatigued or burned out
- Have a higher divorce rate
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Tips to help you sleep better
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sleeping pills.
- Eat lightly and don’t go to bed hungry.
- Follow a relaxing routine e.g., take a warm bath
- Allow enough time to sleep
- Try to keep a regular sleep schedule
- Be active each day
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Tips to help maintain family and social life
- Plan “quality” time with spouse, family and friends
- Involve family with planning of activities
- Try to have at least one meal together each day.
- Organize or participate in group activities e.g., ball tournament
- Exercise with family e.g., cycling
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