Page 96 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

HEALTHY LIVING
story by Lynn Lofton
96 | July 2020 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Who’s more productive, early birds or night owls?
And which lifestyle is better for health? Let’s ask two professionals who can shed some light on these questions.
Dr. Chelsea Grow, a Memorial Hospital neurologist who’s board certi ed in neurology and in sleep medicine, headache, and electrophysiology, votes for the early birds. “A structured morning routine builds con dence and
sets the tone for a successful day,” she said. “Studies have shown that early risers are more proactive and more likely to anticipate problems and handle them e ciently. Being proactive can increase productivity by anticipating needs and not waiting to be told what to do.”
She explains that staying up late is harmful health wise, regardless of your lifestyle. “Studies have shown that people who stay up late have higher levels of body fat, risk of developing health issues like diabetes, and low muscle mass,” she said. “Staying up late can lead to unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, drinking alcohol, and unhealthy eating. All of these can lead to depression.”
But what about people who must be up late and sleep during the day for shift work? “Being on shift work can make it more di cult to maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle,” Dr. Grow says. “Shift work can impair brain function, a ect blood pressure and cholesterol, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It has also
been linked to behavioral and lifestyle factors which can lead to chronic diseases. Shift workers are also more likely to have a higher body mass index, smoke and have higher stress levels.” Laurie Johnson, professional certi ed coach and owner of 4 Elements Coaching, o ers advice. “Many clients come to a coaching session to discuss productivity and habits. Sometimes, they nd themselves out of balance in this area, especially when experiencing extreme stress or major workload increases,” she explains. “My role as their coach is to help them discover an awareness of what is helping them feel productive and what isn’t. If sleep is an issue, we often go deeper to discover what steps they could take to make changes in that area and to create the sleep habits they really need.”
Addressing the needs of those who must work at night, Johnson points out that sleep patterns are generally thought of as a rhythm. “I think it’s a good idea for shift workers to assess what’s reasonable for them in a holistic way, looking not just at what they need to get done, but also what supports their overall wellness,” she said. “We often think we need to ‘do all the things’ and that there isn’t enough time. Sleep is one of the rst things we sacri ce. But often a lack of sleep leads to an inability to function at the best levels.”