Shift work...sh*t work

For anyone who doesn't understand the fun of shift work let me enlighten you. I work 4 nights then have 4 days off. Does this enable me to have a normal eating schedule or exercise routine. In a word...Nope.  I do what I have to to make things work but there are times when it is harder to do than others. The ER is an amazing place to work but it can also be the biggest pitfall to getting healthy. Everyday we save people's lives or help them in some way and in return for this we get thanked and rewarded by patients and their families with...FOOD. That's right, we save yourself or family from something and we get chocolates or cookies or doughnuts in return. While we inhale these delicious gifts of thanks we all sit there and think to ourselves "Why couldn't they just bring us some veggies and dip?" or better yet, a card of thanks that we can share with everyone.

On top of these temptations there are the many gift baskets from the specialists at the holidays, themed food nights and the joy of not one, but 4 pick up restaurants and a 24 hr grocery store within a blocks distance of the hospital. This means on nightshifts when we feel like a treat of chips or cookies or candy we just need to walk down the street and get them. You can try as hard as you want to not indulge but there comes a time whether it be after a bad trauma case or just out of boredom from the rare quiet shift that you will inevitably fall victim to the goodies. On my quest to be healthier and keeping in tune with the five small meals a day that I am supposed to be having I have been making my meals ahead of time and taking a bag stocked full of healthy goodies such as veggies, salad, yogurt, nuts and an apple or an orange (the latter two have the same effect as coffee to perk you up btw). I have learned that it takes my own will power to just say no to the sweets and that as long as I have something healthy to munch on and a big waterbottle going on I can avoid them.

It takes a bit of getting used to with sleeping patterns and eating patterns changing every four days but I have found as long as I eat every 4-5 hours while I am awake I can manage this routine...now I just have to get used to the fact that I need to go to the gym everyday that I am off if possible. I am getting there though and it is easier everytime I go now. I actually look forward to my gym time when I can get on the treadmill and hit the machines to destress from the previous week's shifts.