I work midnight shift as a juvenile corrections officer and when I get home at 7:30am all I want to do is go to sleep.  Then when I get up between 4-5pm I still feel worn out because my bio-rhythms are so out of whack from my crazy schedule.  I make dinner, try to pick up the house and fit in some time for my husband and then it seems like it's time to get ready for work again.  On my days off I try to reverse my schedule so that I sleep at night.  I know this probably is harder on my body, but it's a reality of life as it's the only way to make time for family, friends, errands, and a normal life in general.  I just never seem to be able to find the motivation or energy to exercise regularly, although I do have an active work enviornment.  Does anyone have any ideas or empathize with what I'm going through?

- Alisha -

 As you know already your hours are hard- I have  friend who bought the Wifit game that you play on tv. Which I love!!! Maybe you could check in to this very fun way to get moving. It is pricey however its your health and thats PRICELESS! Good luck!

I know where you are coming from. I work from Midnight to 8am at a county jail (before that at a juvenile correctional facility) & the hardest thing to do is to try and fit some kind of activity in. I have found that my co-worker and I try to do outdoor checks more often in the night (we call it the county treadmill) and I have been trying to bike to work also (thank you rising gas prices for this nudge). Since the schedule is one that most don't understand some of my co-workers sleep in shifts so that they can keep a steady work out time & others work out when they can. The best that you can do is to schedule and carve out a time for you, time that you know you can each day, & maybe by asking your husband to go for a walk or a bike ride you can kill two birds with one stone (spending time with him and getting a work out). I think that the idea of getting the Wii and all the fun activities is also a good idea since you can also do this with your family. Just remember to keep you head up and never lose (we always win!).

Keep safe,

Amy