Hey there! 🧑🏻💼💻
In one of our last chats, we talked about how our body follows a natural 24-hour rhythm that keeps inflammation, metabolism, and energy in sync. But what happens when work pulls us into the opposite cycle? When night becomes our day, and sleep becomes optional? For many of us in healthcare, call centers, remote workers, or 24-hour industries, that’s just reality. We can’t fight it, that’s for sure, so let’s understand what really happens to our body instead—and what we can do to stay in balance. ⚖️
What happens to our body clock when we work nights?
Our body runs on a built-in timer called the circadian rhythm. ⏰ It tells our cells when to repair, our hormones when to rise or fall, and our immune system when to defend or recover. But that rhythm relies heavily on light and darkness to stay on beat. Working nights flips this natural pattern upside down, forcing the body to function when it’s programmed to rest.
Studies show that night shift workers tend to have higher levels of inflammatory markers like CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α, which are all linked to chronic inflammation. The stress hormone cortisol stays elevated when it should dip, while melatonin, our nighttime antioxidant, stays suppressed by bright light. Over time, this internal tug-of-war strains our metabolism, immune defenses, and even mood regulation. 🙈
What can we do to balance?
The best in terms of our circadian rhythm is always wake during the day and sleep at night, but… let’s be real, life can get in the way of that and not everyone can switch to a 9-to-5 (not to mention night shift salary is way better 🤑). So it’s best to fix what you can control.
🥗 Time your meals smartly. Eat your heaviest meal closer to the start of your shift when your body’s more alert, and keep lighter snacks toward the end. Avoid eating right before bed—digestion and inflammation peak when we eat during our “biological night.”
💧 Hydrate throughout your shift. Dehydration thickens the blood and slows nutrient flow, amplifying inflammatory stress. Even just keeping a refillable bottle nearby can make a difference.
💡 Use light to your advantage. Bright light exposure at the beginning of your shift tells your brain it’s time to wake up, while dimming lights or using blue-light filters before bed helps signal rest mode.
💤 Stick to a sleep schedule. Even if you can’t get eight hours, aim for consistency. Sleeping and waking around the same time each day trains your body to adapt better. If you can, invest in blackout curtains or sleep masks, make your room as cold as you can for better quality sleep. Then dab some 🪻Oleia Lavender or Frankincese Oil👑 and you’ll be REM-ing in no time. 😉
Can we fight inflammation while living out of sync?
We can definitely soften the impact. Balanced and well-timed meals rich in antioxidants, like vegetables, fish, and healthy oils, help neutralize oxidative stress… then supplement with ⚪Oleia Softgels⚪ and the support for your body will be phenomenal. Regular movement, even light stretching or walking after work, also improves circulation and reduces inflammation. So we can do a lot to help our body through it.
Though night work might always feel like swimming upstream, it doesn’t have to wear us down. With mindful choices and a little support, our body can still find its rhythm. So get that 🪙 and stay healthy!
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time! ⌚
xo, L.
