Shift Work is Killing You

Have you been struggling to make a decision about starting your own business? Or maybe you’ve just been hating on that J-O-B that has you rotating through shifts like a merry-go-round? I know first-hand that there is nothing MERRY about that type of rotation! Shift work sucks in so many ways, and not only that, it can actually cause you some shitty physical and mental ailments.These ailments are part of why I want you to dream big and think about what you LOVE to do, because it’s time to escape that life of work-eat-sleep-repeat to find the freedom of self-employment!

Shift Work or Prison?

Is this a dramatic comparison? I’ll let you decide, but I bet if you’ve been working shift life for a while, you’ll agree that it makes you feel pretty trapped. Between working over-time, in many cases it being mandatory, feeling like crap when you get home and the stress of knowing you’ll do it all over again on Monday, you probably feel shitty a lot! Below are just a few things researchers have come across while studying the effects of shift work.

Women and Night Shift

An American study showed that 11% of women in their sample group who worked rotating shifts for more than 11 years had a shortened lifespan!

For women who worked rotating shifts for 6+ years, their risk of death by cardiovascular disease increased by 19%!

Physical Problems

Night shift specifically messes with our internal biological clock, which can wreak all kinds of havoc in your body. This includes slowing down your melatonin production, making a mess of your natural sleep cycles!

Research has also found that shift work may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease by 40%!

Mental Health Concerns

A 2007 study showed that people who work night shifts have much lower levels of serotonin compared to others who work straight day shifts. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is a key player in the role of our moods.

The American Public Health Association published a study that showed people who work rotating shifts are 28% more likely to develop mental health problems compared to those who do not. Shift workers are 33% more likely to experience depression!

My personal experience with shift work; I was an unhappy B-I-T-C-H to be around. I couldn’t sleep when I needed to, I was too stressed about what would happen next at work, and when I was tired, I would sleep my entire day away! Some weeks I felt like I never saw my family! It had me on a rollercoaster of mood swings ALL the time! I hated this lifestyle and I know you do too! I didn’t know the life that I live today was even possible! I thought that hating your job was normal and that there were no other options! I want you to know that there are other options! I want you to want MORE for yourself! Think about what self-employment could offer you!

Self-Employment and Side Hustling

I’m not going to tell you to quit right now to jump into a business you haven’t planned, but I do want you to start thinking about what self-employment or even a side hustle could offer you. A side hustle of doing something you love and getting PAID for it, could be your first step into the world of working full-time for yourself!

Flexible Schedule - Being self employed means you are your own BOSS! You get to choose how many hours you work and when you work them!

IDEAL Clients - Being your own boss also means you get to choose WHO you work with. No more “Negative Nancy’s” working on the line beside you, because YOU decide who you want to work with.

Work Where you Want to Work - Another huge pro to being self-employed is remote working. Do you have a cottage that only gets used once or twice a year for a weekend? How about running your business through your laptop at your cottage for the summer?! Trust me when I say it is possible!

These are a few reasons to get you thinking about quitting your J-O-B to dive into the world of self-employment. That may not look like you handing in your resignation letter next week, or next month, or even next year. But having me by your side to help make a plan to build a side hustle, get your financial shit together, and eventually turn that side hustle into your main income, will get you there sooner! Maybe you’re struggling to find the thing you love that could be your side hustle? CLICK HERE to book a no charge 30 minute Discovery Call, we can talk about all of the possibilities and see if we’re a good fit. I encourage you to dream big!

Sherry