Night Shift "Blues", “The Struggle is Real!” And Your Untapped Superpower

As-salamu alaykum,

Some degree of work during the graveyard hours is a reality for many of us working in healthcare; whether it’s to respond to a straight up clinical concern, an administrative twist that impacts the latter at night or a full-on shift on the opposite end of the day.

We all acknowledge that it's not fun…and frankly many studies have established associations between the resultant circadian disruption and an increased risk for morbidity from burnout syndrome to cardiometabolic diseases and even cancer that should make us wary of picking up work during these off-hours. 

Questions and feedback from a few colleagues in relation to the recent SakeenahMD webinar: “The Burnout-Proof Healthcare Pro’s Sleep Essentials” (replay here) were an acknowledgement of some this reality.

“What's your advice for the doctors who have to work day AND night shifts in the Emergency room ?”

“I am hoping to know whether 5 to 6 hours of sleep is adequate for my well being?”

“Thoughts/experiences with shift disorder medications such as suvorexant”

“I would like to see more practical advice that specifically pertains to the healthcare workers, esp. those who have to work a fair number of night shifts, which tends to disrupt the circadian rhythm.”

The answer to all of these regardless of which resources you look at is to focus on your holistic wellness strategy while having a medium to long-term exit plan tailored to your circumstances because let’s face it, the longitudinal data on overall health status doesn’t bode well for rotational or straight up night shift workers as we already alluded to above! 

Take a look at the Nurses’ Health Study, a 24-year long prospective study for deeper insights in this regard if you have a few minutes to spare.

You will come to the conclusion that “the struggle is real!”

In a related article from the Guardian, Kennedy Sparr, a 911 emergency dispatcher in Michigan, who works from 6pm to 6am shared this: “I noticed at the times that I work night shifts, you’re more edgy, you have more of an attitude, you’re angry, you’re tired, you’re exhausted, and you feel drained”. This is what many of us have likely experienced in some capacity - what I call the Night Shift “Blues”!

What can we do about it?

Prioritize Your Recovery

Colleagues and friends, there is no magic bullet to thriving on these shifts.

Consider the following prompts.

• Sleep. Consider Not Just How Much? but How Well?  

• Nutrition. Think Halal and Wholesome.

• Movement. Layer in some Sun exposure.

• Nurture Your Essence Outside of Work. Deen. Family. Friends. Community. 

It doesn’t get more complicated than this, friends. (It's one of the reasons I decided NOT to do another webinar focused on these questions - we already covered key concepts around these in the recent webinar - replay link here.

Do Ihsan (your best) - not perfection -  with these and you will, in sha Allah, thrive on these shifts (and stay #burnoutproof!)

These essentials and more are the focus of our upcoming Burnout-Proof Foundations Masterclass for Healthcare Professionals.

Now, what is this (often) untapped superpower? 

Consider this question: How do you spend your time when the night shift slows down or when you are awoken from your slumber (while on call) to address an urgent clinical scenario and you just can’t fall back to sleep?

Hint: The Prophet Muhammad PBUH mentioned that it was a practice of the righteous before you (while addressing the Companions; and by default - the rest of us!)

Thankfully, it has nothing to do with our modern day devices which more than likely plays a big role in the reality of this question for many of us.

You see the way that our lives play out is by divine design. We are placed in different circumstances to be “challenged” or “tested” as Allah mentioned in the 2nd verse of Surah Al-Mulk, “…which of you will be best in deeds…”

Allah, the Most High, chose you and I to be challenged in this way. The differentiating factor is how we will choose to respond to the challenge.

Will we choose to optimize the essentials - Protect your Sleep. Eat well. Move often & Nurture Your Essence Outside of Work - and add a layer of Barakah, a touch of Ihsan?

or

Will we choose not to engage and let the shift define us?

Now, let’s cut to the chase.

How about you consider praying just 2 units of prayer over a likely inconsequential 5 mins when your shift slows down? Or when you are struggling to go back to sleep? 

Yeap. Qiyam al -Lail or the Night Prayer.

The hadith below highlights 4 things that make this a superpower for the one who takes up the challenge.

Bilal narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Hold fast to Qiyam al-Lail, for it is the practice of the righteous before you, and indeed Qiyam al-Lail is a means of nearness to Allah, a means of prevention from sin, an expiation for bad deeds, and a barrier for the body against disease.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3549]

I would also posit that with sincere intention to incorporate this practice it could very well elevate the status of your mundane, often trouble-laden off-hours work to the status of the “best of deeds” as referenced above from Surah Al-Mulk Chapter 67: v2.

Take the Next Step

Colleagues and friends, on your next night shift or the next time you struggle to go back to sleep give this a shot. Remember that it counts as “night prayer” as long as it is done between sunset to dawn i.e. from after the Maghrib prayer to the time right before the Fajr (Dawn) prayer.

Before I let you go today, I would like to invite you to audit the opening module of the Burnout-Proof Foundations Masterclass for Healthcare Professionals starting next week in sha Allah;

Title: Becoming the Best Version of Your ‘Self’ #Burnout-Proof (Module 1)

Date: Thursday, 26th Muharram 1446 AH (1st August 2024)

Time: 6:30 PM CST (Find Your Local Time Here)

Duration: 90 minutes + Q&A

Register here to save your spot!

Spots are limited - so register today to be sure you will have a spot in sha Allah. Live attendance is strongly recommended although recording will be made available to registrants for a limited period of time.

Look forward to seeing some of you next week in sha Allah.

May Allah, the Most High, put His Barakah in all of our sleep and grant us renewed energy to continue to serve the healthcare community and our patients with Ihsan (Excellence). Amin 

Sincerely,

Sulyman

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