[298] - Relaxing or Ruining You? Alcohol’s Hidden Impact on Shift Workers

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Alcohol consumption compounds the health challenges of shift work by disrupting sleep quality, increasing weight gain, and exacerbating cardiovascular risks. After 634 days of sobriety, I've experienced transformative benefits including better sleep, weight management, improved mood, and significantly more energy.

• Alcohol is a sedative, not a relaxant, causing broken and shallow sleep that misses restorative stages
• Shift work already weakens the body, and alcohol compounds these effects
• Alcohol negatively impacts weight, blood sugar, immunity, heart health, and mental wellbeing
• The shift work culture normalizes and often celebrates drinking
• Choosing not to drink is empowering and true friends will respect this decision
• Zero-alcohol alternatives can help maintain social comfort while avoiding alcohol's harmful effects
• Sobriety brings improved sleep, weight stabilisation, clearer thinking, and increased energy

Join the Shift Workers Collective, a private community of shift workers sharing evidence-based strategies. I run weekly Q&As and monthly webinars focused on shift work education in a supportive environment. Find the link in the show notes.

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Roger Sutherland is Australia's Night Shift & Sleep Specialist and the founder of A Healthy Shift.

After more than 40 years working rotating shifts with Victoria Police, Roger now helps organisations reduce fatigue risk, improve staff wellbeing and build healthier, safer and higher-performing 24/7 workplaces through evidence-based education, circadian biology and the Shift Work Champions™ Framework.

Shift Work Champions™: https://join.ahealthyshift.com/shift-work-capability

Website: https://ahealthyshift.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-sutherland

Instagram: @a_healthy_shift

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Disclaimer: Roger Sutherland is not a doctor or a medical professional.  Always consult a physician before implementing any strategies mentioned in this podcast. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Roger Sutherland will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of the information contained in this podcast, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness, or death.

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