Night shift in a hospital can be its own unique challenge, but when you factor in things like fatigue and stress it becomes even more challenging. Then, throw in the diet that many of us night shifters have used to get us through a night and the entire situation becomes incredibly difficult. After all, it’s not like we can send out for something from the local Italian place at 3 in the morning.
It’s important that you do all you can to keep yourself energized and healthy during your shift, and while there’s no question that gallons of coffee are what keep us going when things get hectic, our diet deserves a closer look too. So beyond coffee, what should you be doing for your diet? Here are some tips to keep in mind.
- Pre-making meals on your days off that can be heated up or eaten cold is a great idea. Things like soups, stews, and similar options can be made days in advance and provide nutrition you need.
- Avoiding greasy or sugary snacks is important, too. We’ve all felt the temptation of a Twinkie or a donut at 2AM, but that initial sugar rush leads to a crash shortly thereafter that can make it even harder to keep at work.
- Not only can the wrong foods impact your energy and overall fitness, but they can impact your hygiene as well. Certain foods could make you sweat more – like spicy foods – and wiping greasy fingers on your pants is only setting yourself up for problems later.
In short, paying attention to your diet makes a lot of sense. Feeling good is a must, and our Fit Scrubs are made from antibacterial fabric that will help prevent sweating and odors and make it easier to feel your best no matter what you’re having for lunch – even if lunch is at 1 in the morning.