I recently received the following question from reader Cherri:
“I … was wondering what advice you may have for a 3rd shift IT worker. The gym @ work is closed during my hours (11pm-7:15am), I am SUPER exhausted pretty much all the time from working the shift to begin with, but I do have a treadmill at home. But even eating is a problem for me, I’ve read that because your body thinks it should be sleeping during my shift, that one’s metabolism slows so pretty much anything that’s eaten isn’t burned like it would be during the day.”
This is a good question that I’m sure affects many, many people in today’s 24/7 world. Anyway, about your situation:
I don’t know much about sleep rhythms and night shifts, but I would think that as long as your body gets enough rest it wouldn’t really matter that you spend most of your awake times at night. I know that sunlight is important for the body, but since you get off during the morning, you may have a chance to get MORE sunlight than the average person who has to be stuck in their office during the day. I do my exercising after work during late afternoon and evening. So for you, I would just recommend something in the morning (right after you get off) or later in the day (as it would be a good time to use your treadmill).
As for eating, I suppose it limits your options as what you can eat if most of the restaurants are closed when you want lunch or dinner. However, this just means that you have to plan on bringing more sensible things yourself. Pack yourself a fresh, tasty sandwich or load up on fruit or veggies from home. Basically what works is simple: Eat less; Exercise more. I can see how a more unusual work time could effect this, but it certainly isn’t impossible.
If anyone else has any insights on staying fit while working the night shift throw your two cents in the comments below.
