Shift work disorder arises when you have issues conforming to your wake and rest hours because of your job. It can be a challenge for instance, if you must work at night when most people usually sleep. Morning shifts can be hard too if it's difficult to fall asleep before your body is prepared. This happens because there is an inconsistency between the body's circadian cycles and job commitments; resulting in having to be awake when your body wants to snooze, or needing to rest when it expects that you should stay alert.
People with shift work disorder can suffer from poor and inadequate sleep, often lagging up to four hours or more behind the average worker. This can lead to a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, impaired performance at work and a heightened risk for making an expensive mistake or sustaining injury on-the-job.
Not all people who do shift work will struggle with shift work disorder. Some may find it challenging to adjust initially to a new shift. However, if after several weeks you're still having trouble sleeping or feel tired despite getting 7-8 hours of sleep, it could be an indication of the disorder.
The symptoms of shift work disorder can persist while you maintain the same shift work schedule. If you transition to a more traditional sleep pattern, these sleep issues may disappear. Nevertheless, some people may experience difficulties with sleeping even after switching back.
Shift work disorder is a disruption of the body's normal circadian rhythms. These internal clocks set when you should be feeling tired or alert. They usually correspond to a 24-hour period. Light and the lack of it both have an effect on the production of melatonin, which helps us get to sleep. With shift work disorder, exposure to bright light may interfere with this hormone production, making it difficult to rest when you should be at work.
There are several variations of shift work schedules that can cause difficulties. This includes:
- Early-morning shifts
- Night shifts
- Overnight shifts
- Rotating shifts
Shift work can present a challenge; night owls may find themselves better suited to the evening shift, whereas morning larks may be better off with an early start. That said, different shifts like overnight and rotating shifts can still pose a difficulty for employees regardless of their sleeping patterns.