general shift work information
Ah vacation. Nothing is sweeter to this second shifter than a vacation away from the office, the people and the job. I had planned my first vacation for the new year for a late winter getaway to the Mexican resort town of Cabo San Lucas. My wife had a business conference to attend at the […]
Read more "Staycation, Vacation and returning to ShiftWork"It was gray, cloudy, rainy and thunder could be heard nearby. My bed was warm, the house was quite and everything was alright. I’d slept till around 10 o’clock in the morning when I had to make several decisions, including would I get out of bed, and if so; Why? Would it be to return […]
Read more "Thankfulness on a Rainy Day"“Summers here, and the time is right, for dancing in the street!” Martha and the Vandellas Summer has befallen unto this shift working dad and the last thing I can find time for is dancing in the street. However, the time is right to rotate the garage of snowblowers, ice melt and holiday decorations for garden […]
Read more "Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Some, Summertime…"A 2013 USA Today article said that almost 15% of Chicago commuters endure a daily mega-commute of one hour or more. As a shift worker, my off-peak commute is just shy of that mark. I don’t endure road ragers, cramped buses or over packed train cars. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. My commute is practically […]
Read more "Commuting "January welcomes the new year and a time of reflection, resolution, and perhaps the acceptance of change or improvement. It’s a time when we can introspectively itemize the past year, and decide whether we used our best effort or were simply good enough in accomplishing our personal and professional goals. With all the hope the new […]
Read more "When Is Accepting Mediocrity As Good Enough?"In today’s complex and complicated world of technology and the mistrust of citizens and government, does voting really matter? My answer is Yes, yes it does! Voting matters because it gives us free expression without retribution! It is our civic duty and our right. If you do not exercise your rights, you will certainly loose […]
Read more "Does Voting Matter?"As Daylight Savings Time comes to an end and our wall clock “falls back”, we gain an addtitional hour for the day, but how does that one hour effect the body clock of a shift worker? Sleep in general, is one of the most common laments of the shift worker. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau […]
Read more "Daylight Savings Time and the Shift Worker"By 9 to 5 standards, the life of shift work may seem abnormal, and making healthy lifestyle choices even more difficult. The basic need of nutrition is paramount to any individual, and especially the shift worker. Eating, drinking and sleeping in odd hours also takes it’s toll upon the human body. In fall 2011, the […]
Read more "Marathon Man"Working the second or third shift, is an irregular work schedule that creates conflict. Trying to live a productive, satisfying and meaningful life outside of the traditional 9 to 5 is difficult. This nontraditional lifestyle takes a personal, social and intellectual toll exacerbated by the demands of personal relationships, healthy choices and/or parenting demands. How can we […]
Read more "Living with Shift work"
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