exercise in shift work | The Healthy Shift Worker

I was sitting in a Pathology class yesterday listening to my lecturer talk about cardiovascular disorders and I couldn’t help but feel despondent. Why? Because as I sat there with my “shift-working-thinking-cap-on” lifestyle factors kept coming up in conversation – a LOT.

Lifestyle factors that is, which are causing most of the chronic diseases that we seeing in society today.

Of course our shift working lifestyle is certainly hazardous thanks to ongoing and relentless sleep deprivation which contributes to overwhelming feelings of tiredness making us incredibly vulnerable to sickness and disease.

In fact there are many clinical studies which indicate shift workers in particular are at much greater risk of having a heart attack, developing breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression – to name a few.

But (and it’s a big “but”), there are so many PREVENTABLE factors which are leading us down the path of chronic disease and illness which of course includes poor lifestyle choices.

I’m going to type that again to emphasis my point – poor lifestyle choices.

Yes that’s right – choices.

Whilst we may not have any control over our roster (that would be awesome), we all have a CHOICE on whether we decide to make health our number one priority.

It’s really that simple. When we decide to:

Lose weight
Reduce our salt, alcohol and sugar intake
Quit smoking and
Commit to regular exercise then we are helping ourselves.

So the next time you’re speaking to a practitioner for advice on keeping healthy and staying well (whether that’s a doctor, naturopath or a nutritionist), don’t ask them “what can you give me to fix this?”

Instead ask them “what can I do to help fix myself?” because at the end of the day, good health is not all about quick fixes and taking packets of pills. By simply changing our lifestyles to much healthier ones will go a long way to improving our shift work health.

Lindsey

2021-09-05

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Great book, great information! This book is great and an easy read. I finished it in one sitting in only a few hours. While most of the information makes common sense, it is nice to have it all laid out in one book and have someone who has actually done shift work writing about it for once. I would recommend if you are feeling the monotony of your shifts and throughout your life. The book gives tangible things you can do that might make shift work seem a little more bearable and is definitely something you can come back each time you are forgetting what should be your priorities (like sleep and nutrition). Here’s to hoping shift work won’t last forever in my life, but while it’s here, might as well make the most of it!

Amazon Customer

2021-03-01

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Healthy learning Perfectly written from one shift worker to another. This book has given me really good information that helped me understand how to change my habits which is a challenging aspect of our lives. Thank you Audra for sharing your knowledge on health and wellbeing.

NPCanada

2020-01-10

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Great Information I've worked shiftwork for years and I wish I had this book at the start of my career. There is so much good, science-backed information on how to approach shiftwork in a wholistic, healthy manner. I've recommended it to my co-workers!

Roger Sutherland

2019-11-09

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Shift working strategies written by......a shift worker This is a book written by a shift worker for shift workers.Shift work is demonized by all the "experts" for the impact that it has on our systems and rightly so, It's brutal, but with over 1.5 million shift workers in Australia alone, someone has to be there for those "in need" on a 24/7 basis.This is the book that doesn't demonize shift work but guides shift workers on how to best stay as healthy as possible through shift work.It's a book that ALL companies Health and Wellbeing departments that run a 24/7 operation should be recommending to their shift workers....insisting they read. .I highly recommend that ALL shift workers get hold of a copy of this book.It's such an easy, light hearted and humorous read with many "nod in agreement" moments you will definitely relate to.I guarantee that there are strategies in this book that you will take away personally that will benefit you greatly. .Well done Audra

melissa

2019-10-17

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I highly recommend this book! It's such an easy read and is extremely relatable to shift workers. It's hard to find someone that really understands what shift workers go through and understands what's the most important factors we need the most. This is the first-ever book that I've come across that's specifically for shift workers and is written by one with experience. Audra wrote this book in a way that makes it easy for you to understand the science side without making you feel overwhelmed. I feel like this is the kind of book you can open and read a chapter at any time and can finish it within a week even after taking your time with it. Thank you for creating such an amazing piece of work Audra!

Colin Proctor

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Making shift work more survivable! It felt a bit odd to hold a book in my hand written by a long time Facebook friend, on the other side of the world. I've been witness to her journey from airline shift worker to health guru. The book is well written, and has lots of tips to offer the shift worker. I could have used these more when I was a chef for 25 years! I like the reminders at the end of each chapter, and the final checklist, very helpful in summing everything up. I've scanned the recipes and they look both healthy and tasty and not that hard to throw together. I've got 2 or 3 people in mind that would benefit from this book. A book you can keep coming back to and applying to your life. I get the impression this is just one of many books we'll see from this amazing lady. Definitely worth a read.

Helen

2019-09-26

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: A must read for Shiftworkers I have been a shiftworker for over 30 years and to finally have Audra Starkey, who was a shift worker herself, write this book that shows that she fully understands and truly cares for the health of shiftworkers, is both a relief and a godsend. Audra covers the main struggles we may all encounter in shiftwork, regardless of the actual job or occupation and offers practical solutions to guide us to better health. The information that details what happens to our bodies and bodily processes, as we are impacted by shiftwork is invaluable in helping to make better decisions towards better health. I highly recommend "Too Tired To Cook" for any shiftworker.

Amy C

2019-09-23

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Best Shift Workers resource ever! As a long time shift worker, I have come across a number of well meaning tips through the years, but many were either impractical or simply not effective, but this book is the best, most comprehensive guide to surviving shift work I have ever encountered. From diet, to sleeping stratgies, to lifestyle management, this book has it all. The advice is sound, effective, and realistic. The authors passion for helping the stressed shift worker brightly shines through. I wish I could place a copy in every shift workers hands!

Ali

2019-08-31

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: A must read for all shift-workers in this world A book written by a shift worker to a shift worker. Someone who really does ‘get it’ and understand the struggles of shift workers out there because she has been there herself. I loved the fact that Audra used some real life examples throughout her book of how she struggled too. I’m sure it makes people reading this feel better knowing it’s not just them and they’re not going completely crazy ... I’m not a shift worker myself anymore (used to be a while back) but needless to say I was gripped all the way through, an easy to read informative book with action steps at the end of each chapter, simple yet not overwhelming. This is an absolute must read book for every single shift worker out there. It will change your life and others around you. My phone is already out of the bedroom .. and it was much easier than I ever thought it would be. Here’s to better sleep 😴

Kim Ramsay

2019-08-11

Too Tired to Cook: The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (And Surviving) in a 24/7 World: Finally! !!! This book is easy to read ( i read it in 1 shift ) but has so many nuggest of wisdom, a must for shift workers.Thank you xo

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