Any night shift/graveyard shift people here? How do you get in shape?

[lelots]

I work as a night shift nurse, and it's been haaaaaard~! Let's face it Night shift schedules are challenging because most of the fitness apps work for people who function during the day time! Any tips out there?

I make sure I walk around when I'm at work, and I've been successfull with my step goals! YAY~! But I want to do more! 

I've been doing cardio exercises before I go to work and also incorporate youtube videos (especially Blogilates). It's been helping me, but there are days when I'm off that I sleep all day! 

So please, I'd like to know how you cope with reverse schedules! Thank you! 

[jwilkins]

I'm not in your exact circumstances but my schedule as a firefighter can be tricky as well.. It sounds like you've got a good handle on staying active and I'm sure you're on your feet moving at work!

I enjoy fitnessblender channel on youtube, they have some killer workouts for every fitness level..

I've done some shift work in my other life and it was always important for me to maintain my work schedule even when I was off work..If you're not doing that on your off days, you may consider giving it a try..Which will have you up and working out while "normal" folks are sleeping but in the long run it may be easier for your body to keep to the late nite schedule rather than switching back and forth..

You may consider a local running club..Mine has group runs three days out of the week, two during the evening hours and one during the morning..

Hope you find something that works for you!

[DorothyP]

I work as a night shift nurse, and it's been haaaaaard~! Let's face it Night shift schedules are challenging because most of the fitness apps work for people who function during the day time! Any tips out there?

I don't know if your issue is the timing on the fitbit.. like half way through your workday it resets?  I work swing shift part of the year, and I set my fitbit so that all of my workday is one "day" by adjusting the time .. so at 3am, my fitbit says midnight.  That keeps me accountable for that whole period.

[lelots]

Ohhhhh! I didn't know you could do that! Thank you!

[DorothyP]

You are welcome.

From the dashboard, go to settings and adjust your time.  For me I changed from Central to Alasak to add 3 hours.

[KateUK]

Hi!  Yes, night shifter here too.  Things should even out between night and day.  I find on nights I sleep less and can do more exercise and on the last one I make sure I sleep more and workout less.  Rest is an important part of fitness too don't forget!  Good luck!

[trmunson]

Fitness blender is awesome! They just launched a new site and I'm excited to check it out!

[flyboy]

While I am currently working an early day shift schedule, my job, emergency services, has me working 24/7/365 for the past 20 plus years.  Adjusting your reset time is a great tip.  For me it is all about making my schedule when I'm on swings or graveyards work for my life.  I honestly like swing shift best, I get up at 7 AM, get the kids ready for school and then have about 3-4 hours to work out, run errands, etc. before I go to work so I get it all in before my work day starts.  Graveyards are hard because I need to get my workouts and or training in before I go to work, if I wait until after I get home I'm pretty useless, especially after the sun comes up so I try to get into bed while it is still dark outside if I can. 

The best suggestion I can give you is to figure out when and how it works best for your schedule and commit to making it happen.  The first step in a workout or race is always the hardest, after that they get easier once your doing it.  Stay focused and keep up the good work. 

[andrea1123]

Thank you so much @lelots for posting this. I was just about to ask the same thing when I found this post. I work nights and get off at 1AM and home at 1:30AM. I cannot go to sleep when I get home so usually I go to sleep between 3:30AM and 4AM and am normally up around 11AM. 

Thank you @DorothyP for the great tip, I would not have thought of that. 

[med701]

I work a 12 hour shift from1900 to 0700 on an air medical helicopter and I'm usually tired after 12 hours.

The problem for us night shifters is that we sleep during the day when we work and we sleep during the night on our off nights.  It's very confusing to the human body, LOL.

I try to be consistent with my workouts and work out 6 times a week.  The only difference I make is that I work out in the morning on my off nights and work out in the afternoon after getting off duty so I can catch a nap.

The nice thing about night shift is that at least you can be somewhat flexible during the day with your activities.

Good luck!!

[Pbmcamis]

THANK YOU!! Born a "night owl", it only figured I'd work "nights"!! Having been disabled since '98, not much has changed -my BEST SLEEPING hrs are after 4:00am to 11:00!! I TRIED resolving it by setting my time from 11:00am -1:00, did not work! So, 10:00am -01:00am, yet I am usually up BUSY WORKING OUT, whether dancing, cleaning, whatever!!! I wondered tonight about "changing from Mtn time to Pacific, NOT MUCH HELP, but some! I am going to go Hawaii -I'd rather be there anyway!!!! Thank you SO MUCH!! GOD BLESS YOU!!