Who are shift workers?

When we think shift workers, it’s easy to just think Police, Ambulance and Firefighters.

However, in research, shift work generally refers to anyone working outside of the usual hours (approx. 8am and 5pm).

Shift workers are those looking after you in the hospitals, answering your emergency calls, radio dispatching, checking you in at the airport, handling your bags and tending to you on the flight.

Shift workers make food available to you 24/7 at fast food outlets and make sure you’re safe by patrolling your business premises and homes at night.

We also forget about radio announcers, journalists and TV presenters, and I still haven't mentioned private industry manufacturing, truck drivers, taxi and uber drivers.

Shift workers are keeping us going, day in and day out.

It is estimated that are 2 million shift workers in Australia alone. Statistics show that somewhere between 16 and 21% of the world population are shift workers, with industries demanding more around the clock productivity.

Unfortunately, shift work has an enormous impact on our bodies, socially, nutritionally and metabolically.

It’s very easy to say “stop doing shift work”, but we need shift workers.

Shift workers have always struggled with nutrition around shift work, among many things, and I was one of them. I have watched many of my peers have their health deteriorate, or suffer from severe weight gain and metabolic issues, caused mainly by shift work and the lack of education around shift work.

Over my own journey, I have identified a need for education in this area and returned to study. I graduated as an evidence-based practitioner and my aim is to best assist shift workers with nutrition and, in particular, chrononutrition (the importance of meal timing, calorie distribution and when we eat on metabolic health).

If you’re interested in working with me to improve your health and gain more energy, find out more about my services on my coaching page.