The benefits of regular
exercise on your overall physical and mental health are well known.
However, rotating shift workers often find it difficult to maintain a
regular exercise regime because of their rotating schedules.
As a coping strategy for night shift, some
researchers suggest that aerobic exercise soon after
you awaken will raise your body temperature, improve
your mood and make you feel more alert for the rest
of the day. Others suggest that aerobic exercise one
or two hours before commencing your shift will keep
you more alert whilst on duty.
Generally you should avoid doing exercise within
an hour or two of going to bed as exercise increases
your alertness and makes falling asleep more
difficult.
The best thing to do is experiment and find what
works best for you.