exercising/working out on work days

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Just trying to plan my routine here, I'm thinking when I start on nights (starting out on days for part of orientation) that I can fit in going to the gym after I get off of work in the am. I'm not sure I'm being realistic here. Do you work out on days that you work (12s), if so when? Or do you save your workouts for your off days?

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Specializes in Med/Surg and ICU.

If you are at a hospital that has its own gym, why not work out during your lunch break. That is what a lot of us do where I am from. Or I sometimes fit in a workout before work....helps to wake me up, gets the blood flowing, increases energy for night to come.:cool:

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I can't imagine working out after working a full 12.5 hr shift....I'm a firm believer that by the time you get done...you are DONE for the day....it takes a load outta ya.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Cardiology.

I normally work three night shifts in a row. I usually go for a run at around 2pm before my first night shift (of three) and don't work out on my second and third night. I've tried working out after work but I'm always too tired. I use those two nights as "rest days".

If, for some reason, I don't work out during the day of my first night shift I will walk up and down the stairs (around 7 flights) for about 15 minutes during my lunch break (if I'm able to take one).

After working on my third night I go home, sleep for a 4-5 hours then I will go for a short run or a light workout.

I find that I have much more energy on my days off if I work out. if not, I drag all day.

Good luck!

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Specializes in OB L&D Mother/Baby.

I had better luck working out when I was working 12 hr days than nights.

Like the pp if I'm working more than one 12 in a row I generally workout on the first day and then skip the others. I can NEVER make myself workout in the morning... If I feel like I "have" to do it I'd rather do it before I go to work at night.

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Specializes in NICU.

Personally, I am exhausted by the time I get home, but I know someone at work who often goes and runs 2-3 miles when she gets home... I don't know HOW she does it!!!

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Ok so when I worked nights IF I worked three in a row the first night I work I would wake up in the early am and work out(this day i could lift if i wanted to)so that afternoon i could sleep before going into work. The second day would be a wash(i was always too tired) and the last day when I got off work in the am I woould work out but usually only cardio. I switched to days and it seems a little harder to work out on days that I work now. I don't know if it will get easier or if I am just going to have to take those days off.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

if I don't get off work too late, and I know I'll have enough time to sleep, then I might go work out after work. I plan on going later this morning actually =). I really try hard to fit my workouts in ON my work days because the gym that I belong to is in the same town as the hospital that I work (part of my benefits), and my town is 35-40 minutes away. I don't particularly want to make that long drive JUST to work out.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Lately I have been going running after my shifts, cause it's too hot any other time! I only do about 3 miles after work, I'm usually pretty worn out.

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Be careful with working out in the morning after a shift if you have to go in to work later that night as well. Exercise increases your endorphins and may make it harder to fall asleep. Then you will be tired for your shift. Working out before the shift may be bettere because it will invigorate you.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I get home, eat dinner, run .5 mile to the gym (too hot to run outside continuously), do gym stuff, run home .5 miles on days I work.

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I don't work nights nor 12s, unfortunately; I work M-F 9-5 and wake up at 5ish to get to the gym where I do a half hr. cardio (today I jogged on a treadmill, somethimes I do a stair climber, sometimes an eliptical apparatus thingy); then I pick a muscle group to wear out with weights--pecs, back, shoulders, abs, and arms; no way I can do it after work because I'm pretty tired, I don't want to boost my energy before going to bed, and the gyms are much busier in the evening and I'd rather be able to move from machine to machine without waiting.

When I did 12s on nights I just worked out on my days off (or nights, rather); not sure if I could work out before/after working a 12 because sleep would be greatly compromised, and that would be no bueno :nono:

when I did 8s on nights in CA, I came home and went to sleep and woke up to go back to work, not working out at all; yep...did lots of damage to my body during my time in CA, but I still miss it

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