Sleeping When the Sun is Up
The key to adjusting your sleeping pattern lies in changing your body's circadian rhythm, a sort of natural alarm clock that helps to regulate your hormones, body temperature, heart rate and other functions to the rhythm of the day. This circadian clock is normally timed to the earth's natural light and dark cycles, which is perfect for the regular office job. But for people who work in industries that require round-the-clock employees, like the police force, hospital system, newsrooms and mining companies, this clock needs to be reset.
Resetting your circadian clock takes a bit of work, however. For overnight workers, once the body gets used to being up at night and sleeping during the day, things get a bit easier. But for those with a constantly-changing schedule, also called a rotating shift, the circadian clock has a tough time constantly readjusting. It is this last type of shift work that tends to be most taxing on the body.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that up to 20 percent of shift workers report falling asleep on the job. These workers are more likely to experience stomach problems, colds, flu, weight gain, heart problems and higher blood pressure caused as a result of the stresses that shift work can put on a person's mind and body.
However, there are some things you can do to get a good night—or day—of sleep before heading off to work.
