Yes, its possible to stay fit when you work weird hours

Yes, its possible to stay fit when you work weird hoursYes, its possible to stay fit when you work weird hoursRegardless of whether youre a doctor on call, a late-night bartender or a newsdesk journalist who logs on at 6 a.m., you know the struggle of working odd shift hours. Your sleep window doesnt match up with the rest of your friends, your meal times feel all out of whack and your exercise routine is pretty much nonexistent. We feel you, but we also want to help you adjust that last one there.Yes, it is possible to stay fit when you work weird hours. It might take a little more focus and dedication than a nine-to-fiver needs, but hey, if you want it badly enough, youll make it happen. So lets look outside the confines of the local gym and its crappy hours of operation and find how fitness can become a daily part of your routine again.Outdoor runningIf you work shift hours, its likely that some of your off hours fall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., AKA broad daylight. This window is t he optimal time tonurture that outdoor dauerlauf habit. The best paths wont be crowded AF, visibility is at its best for safety purposes and you can reap thesunny benefits of vitamin D(so long as yourewearing that SPF, too). Try logging your run right after your shift ends. The bout of exercise will help you fall asleep faster when the time comes and remain asleep for longer no matter the time of day.High-intensity interval trainingShift work often means that you dont have atonof time to spare in your day, so make those workouts as efficient as possible withhigh-intensity interval training. A 20-minute HIIT workout canprovide the same benefitsas a traditional 40-minute cardio and strength training routine, and everyone can spare 20 minutes, right? Even if you break it into two 10-minute sessions, thats definitely better than nothing.Go for a dipIf your shift work requires standing for hours on end, getting off your feet is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you clock o ut. So follow that intuition straight to the local swimming pool and get some laps in. The rush of the water across your body will feel both soothing and invigorating, and the workout boosts your cardiovascular health while protecting those joints. Youll jump out of the pool feeling like a brand new person.Walk, walk, walkThe more you move, the better, and it doesnt have to be in a traditional workout structure, either. On your breaks, take walks. When stairs are an option, use them instead of an elevator. If your commute can be navigated on foot safely, do so. The more time you spend stepping it out, the less youll struggle with the risk factors that come along with a sedentary lifestyle. And thats certainly a win in our book.This post was originally published on Swirled.com.