A necessary part of some professions, shift work can disrupt your
internal biological clock. The good news is that by taking small
practical steps, you can enjoy your work and keep your health intact
too. Shift work involves working outside the normal working hours of
around 8 am to 6 pm.
"If you cannot avoid shift work, there are ways to reduce its health risks," says Dr Fong Yuke Tien, senior consultant and director of Occupational Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Tips to better cope with shift work
- Minimise working on continuous night shifts.
Working on night shifts continuously for days and weeks in a row will
change your sleep pattern and make it harder for you to get to sleep at
your normal sleeping time
- Adhere to a set shift work pattern.
A set shift work pattern means working the same number of hours and
at the same time. This may help the body adjust better to the new work
schedule.
- Get enough rest.
Working continuously without a rest break to sleep will lead to
fatigue. This will increase accident proneness and inattention. It will
also lead to an increased sleep debt.
- Create a sleep-conducive environment.
Keep your bedroom quiet and dark which is more conducive to sleep.
