As I write this post, somewhere in the world right now it’s the middle of the night and even though most are sound asleep and tucked into bed, there will be someone, somewhere – working.

In fact there are literally millions of people on the planet who work in some kind of job involving shift work.

Not to forget those who work in roles that are not technically classified as shift work, but due to the extra hours placed on employees to get a job done, many employers expect their employees to stay back and work after hours – many of which can be unpaid.

The sad reality is that we’re becoming a society that never stops.

24/7 is becoming the new 9 to 5.

So if you’re new to shift work or about to begin a shift working job, have you thought deeply about what you’re about to embark on? That is, whether you’re really cut out for working irregular hours.

Because shift work is hard, and it’s certainly not for everyone.

Employers rarely run through the details with prospective employees on the impacts of personal health and family life, and how it affects your life.

And it does. Enormously.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s about being prepared.

So what can you do to better prepare yourself for a shift working job?

Lots of things, and here’s a few ideas to help get you started.

1. Be very organised. Plan your meals in advance and buy your groceries accordingly. So many shift workers experience ill health and weight gain soon after starting shift work because they feel too tired to eat properly. Always remember that the fastest and most convenient way to acquire food is not usually the healthiest.

2. Keep your friends and family informed.Let them know when you’re working irregular hours because unexpected visitors and phone calls don’t help an already disrupted sleeping regime.

3. Keep your body moving. In many cases, exercise is the first thing to be given the flick when starting a new shift working job as your energy levels tend to flounder. But the key thing to remember is that exercise will provide you with more energy, whereas no exercise will only escalate your fatigue.

So if you’re new to shift work and unsure whether it’s going to be for you, give yourself a fighting chance by taking care extra good care of your health. Because when you do, your transition from non-shift worker to that of a shift worker will be much more enjoyable and easier one.

Are you tired, unmotivated and struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave? That’s not a trick question by the way.

Because when you work shift work the term ’sick leave’ pretty much goes hand in hand. In fact it’s pretty much a given when you work crazy and irregular hours.

But despite what you may think, when you’re struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave – the solution can be easier than you think.

Of course I’m not talking about serious illnesses here. Medical intervention is always going to be necessary if you fall seriously ill.

I’m referring to those shift workers who are prone to continual sickness – no matter what they do.

As shift workers we’re certainly more susceptible to suffering from colds and flu, headaches, migraines, stress and even depression.

And let’s not forget about feeling tired and unmotivated all of the time.

In fact it’s really easy to get caught up on the shift work treadmill (and I’m not talking about the one that is actually good for you here!)

It’s the one where you feel too exhausted to exercise and too exhausted to cook yourself a healthy meal which results in – you guessed it, feeling even more exhausted.

You feel a bit like you’re encountering Ground Hog Day – with an emphasis on constant tiredness and ill health.

So how can you overcome it?

Well just as I mention in my book Surviving Crazy Hours, you need to begin by focusing on all of the things in your life that you can change rather on those which you cannot.

For example, you may not be able to change your rosters or the fact that you work night shift – but you can certainly change what food you put in your mouth. And this simple thing on its own can make a HUGE difference in how you feel.

Start by taking a good hard look at your pantry and refrigerator. Does it contain a lot of fresh produce or is it filled with boxes, cans and packets of food?

Because gaining more energy and improving your health begins by eating more live foods - that is food that has not been processed to death.

And what’s really exciting is that you will quite literally thrive the more live foods that you eat because they are really easy to digest. Most people are blissfully unaware of just how exhausting the very act of digestion is on its own.

So if you’re sick of feeling tired, unmotivated and you’re struggling to overcome a high rate of sick leave, throw out all of the junk that’s currently sitting in your refrigerator or pantry and replace them with foods that are as close to nature as possible.

Essentially anything that has a ‘list of ingredients’ has at some point, been processed. Eating processed food will only accelerate your exhaustion - the complete opposite to what a shift worker is trying to achieve.