Shift Worker Fatigue – Is It Real Or Are You Just Talking Yourself Into It?

<h1>Shift Worker Fatigue – Is It Real Or Are You Just Talking Yourself Into It?</h1>Author: <a title="Audra Starkey" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/audra-starkey/229732.htm">Audra Starkey</a> If you’re a shift worker then the term ‘shift worker fatigue’ is a sensitive topic because it pretty much sums up your entire existence - fatigued.  But is this really true or are we anticipating shift worker fatigue by just talking about it?  Confused?  Well let me explain.  I was having a bite to eat in the lunch room one day, and I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation that was going on between two people.  Their conversation focussed on how tired they were going to be tomorrow and for the rest of the week.  It was as if they were trying to convince each other how few hours of sleep they were going to get, and most of all, how tired they were going to be.  But the interesting thing was, that they were sounding more and more tired the longer the conversation continued.  Each person said things like, “Boy, am I going to be tired tomorrow,” and “Gee, I’m only going to get three hours of sleep tonight.”  Basically they were anticipating feeling exhausted so pretty much talking themselves into it.  What was really interesting is that the longer the conversation went on, their voices became heavier and I actually felt myself getting tired just listening to their conversation!  The problem with anticipating tiredness, or shift worker fatigue in this way, is that it clearly reinforces the tiredness.  It rivets your attention to the number of hours you are sleeping and how tired you are going to be.  Could anticipating tiredness send a message to your brain reminding you to feel and act tired because you have programmed yourself to respond this way?  Personally, I have found that the best strategy to overcome shift worker fatigue is to get as much sleep as I possibly can and be grateful for whatever amount that might be.  If I simply forget about it and don’t talk about it – I’m far more rested with the sleep that I do get.  So stop talking about how tired you’re feeling – or how tired that you’re going to be, and you’ll start feeling much more energized and certainly a lot less fatigued! Still want to learn more?  Then I recommend you sit down and read my Free Report - "Why Shift Workers Are So Tired, Unhealthy & Unhappy- And What YOU Can Do To Fix It!" It's a hands on report written from one shift worker to another and its going to open your eyes to a completely different way of coping with Shift Work. Click Here For Instant Access:  <a href="http://www.healthyshiftworker.com">Healthy Shift Worker Free Report</a>  About the Author: Audra is a Shift Work and Airline Veteran based in Brisbane, Australia. She specializes in teaching people how to cope with the perils of working shift work and how to put the 'fun' back into their workplace.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/shift-worker-fatigue-is-it-real-or-are-you-just-talking-yourself-into-it-1461148.html" title="Shift Worker Fatigue – Is It Real Or Are You Just Talking Yourself Into It?">Shift Worker Fatigue – Is It Real Or Are You Just Talking Yourself Into It?</a>

If you’re a shift worker then the term ‘shift worker fatigue’ is a sensitive topic because it pretty much sums up your entire existence - fatigued.

But is this really true or are we anticipating shift worker fatigue by just talking about it?

Confused? Well let me explain.

I was having a bite to eat in the lunch room one day, and I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation that was going on between two people.

Their conversation focussed on how tired they were going to be tomorrow and for the rest of the week. It was as if they were trying to convince each other how few hours of sleep they were going to get, and most of all, how tired they were going to be. But the interesting thing was, that they were sounding more and more tired the longer the conversation continued.

Each person said things like, “Boy, am I going to be tired tomorrow,” and “Gee, I’m only going to get three hours of sleep tonight.” Basically they were anticipating feeling exhausted so pretty much talking themselves into it.

What was really interesting is that the longer the conversation went on, their voices became heavier and I actually felt myself getting tired just listening to their conversation!

The problem with anticipating tiredness, or shift worker fatigue in this way, is that it clearly reinforces the tiredness. It rivets your attention to the number of hours you are sleeping and how tired you are going to be.

Could anticipating tiredness send a message to your brain reminding you to feel and act tired because you have programmed yourself to respond this way?

Personally, I have found that the best strategy to overcome shift worker fatigue is to get as much sleep as I possibly can and be grateful for whatever amount that might be. If I simply forget about it and don’t talk about it – I’m far more rested with the sleep that I do get.

So stop talking about how tired you’re feeling – or how tired that you’re going to be, and you’ll start feeling much more energized and certainly a lot less fatigued!

Still want to learn more? Then I recommend you sit down and read my Free Report - "Why Shift Workers Are So Tired, Unhealthy & Unhappy- And What YOU Can Do To Fix It!"

It's a hands on report written from one shift worker to another and its going to open your eyes to a completely different way of coping with Shift Work. Click Here For Instant Access: Healthy Shift Worker Free Report

Audra is a Shift Work and Airline Veteran based in Brisbane, Australia. She specializes in teaching people how to cope with the perils of working shift work and how to put the 'fun' back into their workplace.

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