Page 16 - Garda Journal Summer 2019
P. 16
The Stress of
Shift Work and
How to Avoid It
Erin Watson outlines some remedies for dealing with the stress of working a shift rota and the mental health issues it raises.
Shift work has been around for centuries. Where before it would be soldiers, bakers, innkeepers, and factory workers fighting the long hours and disruption of a “normal” schedule, we now have firefighters, police officers, nurses, taxi drivers, and a multitude of other professions facing the negative effects of shift work. Stress is a main factor in many of the problems that occur with shift work and extended hours; stress simply meaning an upset to your physical mental or
emotional balance. The antidote to stress is balance. Shift-workers have to make a special effort to support their wellbeing and balance to counter the increased stresses they are under.
Living out of sync with nature and the 'normal routine' can cause a number of issues, mentally and physically. Irregular work patterns, disruption of your body clock, reduced exposure to daylight, disruption of
16 GARDA JOURNAL
FEATURE | Mental Health Awareness
