A lot of careers these days can have some quite unusual hours of work. Take, for instance, doctors, nurses, and even supermarket employees. They can all involve some working overnight, or working quite long shifts, with early start times or late finish times. So it can throw your whole life off balance. When you work these kinds of shifts, it is hard to do much else other than work and sleep.
I imagine that a lot of people that do shift work find it hard to stay in shape, and especially find it hard to work out. If you’re exhausted from your shift, then the last thing that you want to do is to go for a run, when you’d rather catch up on some sleep. But not putting your health first, can really have an impact. So here are some ways that you can still take care of yourself, even if you find it hard due to shift work.
Eat Well
A lot of staying healthy and well is down to diet and what you eat. Eating a diet that is high in protein, but low in carbohydrate, usually means that you can get lots of energy, but don’t fill your body up with different sugars. After all, the sugar can make you feel even more exhausted once the sugar high wears off.
But when you’re working odd shifts, the only thing that might be open is a Taco drive-thru. Which is why you need to plan and prepare your meals ahead of time. Then you can pack a meal to take with you so that you’re not reaching for a candy bar out of the vending machine. So take the time to plan, and your health will thank you for it.
Keep Your Feet Moving
Even if you can’t be physically lifting weights, then it is important to move your feet as much as you can. Having said that, a lot of these professions are going to be ones that are quite active. But getting something like a step counter or a fitness tracker could be a good idea to see how many steps you are actually taking.
Keeping your feet moving is good for your circulation too. However, when you’re constantly on your feet, it can put pressure on your body to get the blood flowing upwards. Which is why you might want to look for something like compression socks for nurses or doctors, if you’re in that profession, as you’re are going to be on their feet for a long time.
Avoid Too Much Caffeine
When you’re feeling tired, then caffeine is often a go-to, as it helps to give you a boost. But we can become quite dependent on caffeinated drinks, whether that be a coke or a coffee. So be careful about what you have and how much of it. It is a good idea if you can drink some water alongside any caffeinated drinks, as they can dehydrate you. And being dehydrated is never a good thing when you’re trying to be more conscious of your health. A smoothie or a green juice can give you a natural boost, so consider one of those instead.
