Third shift workers & physical activity concerns

fiercekindness
fiercekindness Posts: 31 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I work 11pm-7am, and I consider my job to be fairly very active. I work was an housekeeper and nursing assistant in a retirement home. There is only so many things you can do at night as residents are sleeping. I would say I am up and moving around for about 80% of the night. So would you agree that my physical activity setting for very active is correct?

Also on my days off to keep myself accumulated I stay on the same schedule. Meaning I sleep during the day and stay awake during the night. It makes sense in my head because I remember how hard it was for me to transition in the first place to working this shift. But with that said, I sometimes wonder about the whole physical activity aspect. I share a home with two other people, so it's not like I can around making noise because they are sleeping. I am naturally a fairly quiet person when moving around the house. Generally they go to bed fairly late like 1am and wake up around 6-7am.

But I don't think it's good for me to just sit around and watch t.v. all the time. Now mind you when they do start waking up, I do then feel more comfortable moving around the house.

Does anyone else do this. I like to keep moving and have physical activity throughout my day. Since my job is across the street, sometimes I go over and just walk around because they have a fitness room. But as the weather is getting colder, I don't think it's likely that will continue very much.

And since I don't own a vehicle and can just leave and go out somewhere. I am left to stay home. Which is okay with me. Typically on the nights I am working, I go into work early and spend 45 minutes to and hour on the treadmill either walking, jogging, or doing intervals. And then when I get home I do like jillian michaels dvd or something like that.

So I what I thought I could do is do one of my in home walking DVD for at least an hour, and then also do a JM dvd or something of that intensity as well. What do you think? Is that enough?

I am just concern that maybe trying to maintain my schedule on my days off maybe doing me a disservice. Although my weight hasn't went up at all, except for the normal weight fluctuations (.05-1lb) that everyone experiences now and then.

Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    I'd like to help but there is too much here. Can you please clarify your specific question(s)?
  • ErinGBragh
    ErinGBragh Posts: 183 Member
    Do some weight training videos. P90X or Supreme 90.
  • krose764
    krose764 Posts: 2
    I work 3--12 hour night shifts (7p-7a) a week as a nurse on an acute care floor. Personally, I find that getting my workouts in during the morning hours after I get off work works best for me, especially if I have to work again that night. I usually go to 3 classes a week at the gym like a step aerobics class or bodyworks (uses light weights). Those classes last about an hour each. If I'm more pressed for time, I try to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio (treadmill or eliptical). If the cost of a gym membership is a concern, a lot of community rec centers offer very similar classes for a lot cheaper.

    If transportation is an issue, there's also the DVD route that you can do at home if you like. I also have a coworker who incorporates some workout stuff into her night like doing lunges down the hall on her way back to the desk or med room, etc. :laugh: You could try something like that :wink:

    As for managing other things....I'm one of those that will rotate my sleep-wake cycle depending on whether or not my work days and off-days get clustered the way I like. It doesn't work for everyone. I'll cook enough so that I'll have meals ready-to-heat for a couple of days, that way I'm not scrambling to cook every single day. I also must confess that I rely on a pretty hefty amount of caffeine to see me through some days...

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