The Power of Positive People (for the night shift worker)
When you work the night shift, it can be easy to let feelings of stress and frustration take the driver’s seat in your life. These negative feelings can be exacerbated when you spend time with negative people who echo your negative thoughts and make you see your job in a poor light.
Surrounding yourself with pessimistic people can be detrimental to your mental health and well-being, especially if you work the night shift. The problem is, we often don’t even realize when those around us have that are having a negative effect on us.
Here are a few ways that this negative energy can affect your life:
- Negativity drains energy. Even if you went to work excited for another day, hearing your colleagues talk about how terrible the shift is going to be can decrease your motivation and make you dread starting your shift.
- Negativity shifts your mindset. You can only hear people say so many bad comments about working nights before you start to believe these negative words yourself.
- Negativity robs you of joy. If you spend all of your time thinking about the downsides and disadvantages of working the night shift, you will miss out on all of the positive moments that would lift your spirits and help you enjoy work. Conversely, if you spend all of you time
In the same way that negative people can have a negative effect on your life, surrounding yourself with positive people has the potential to improve your quality of life.
While you won’t magically become a happier person overnight when you start spending more time with positive people, making sure that these people are in your life can pay off in major ways:
Positive people spread their positivity
Have you ever watched someone crack up while telling a funny story and realized that you were laughing harder at their amusement than the actual story?
Have you ever had your sour mood lifted when your colleagues or friends started joking around and laughing with you?
Have you ever felt better about facing an obstacle after talking to someone who managed to find the bright side or the silver lining of the situation?
Positivity is contagious, and when you spend time with positive people, their positive energy will rub off on you. You will start to adopt not only their joy but also their attitude and outlook on life.
This can make a huge difference, especially when you work the night shift. If you are constantly around people who are expecting to have a great shift, you will start to start approaching your shifts with this mindset. If you are around people who can turn any setback during their shift into an opportunity, you will start to approach setbacks with this attitude, too.
Try to spend more time with positive people. It might just make you a more positive person yourself!
Positive people will shape the way you view the world
When you spend time with positive people, you’ll realize that one reason they are so positive is because they are able to see life’s “glass” as half full instead of half empty.
Is it super rainy outside? A positive person might think, “That’s more time for me to spend time inside making memories with my family!”
Is there a long commute to work? A positive person might say, “That’s the perfect opportunity to take in a new audiobook or podcast!”
Positive people will help you start to see the world through a positive lens, which will come in handy when you are facing the stress that can come with working the night shift.
Change the lens you view the world through and you will change your life.
While the night shift might be tough, you will start thinking more positive thoughts like:
- The night shift gives me the opportunity to run errands during the day when stores are far less crowded.
- The night shift allows me to have a traffic-free commute.
- The night shift opens up my day so that I can attend my kid’s school performances and field trips.
- The night shift gives me the chance to take part in meaningful work that is making a difference.
Change your thoughts and your will change your life.
Having this attitude will allow you to be more appreciative and grateful, which will work wonders for your mental health.
Positive people are great motivators
Because positive people are always looking at the bright side of every situation, they are excellent motivators.
If you’re thinking about going for a promotion at work or taking classes during the day or pursuing your dreams, positive people will give you the encouragement and support you need to take these steps.
If you are dreading your next shift, positive people will give you the boost and positivity you need to get through your shift with a smile.
If you are starting to get worn down while working the night shift, positive people will give you a positive outlook on your situation that will motivate you to push through any challenges you are facing.
When you are around positive people, you will always have a positive sounding board to motivate you when you’re feeling low or need some support.
Positive people will help you maximize your life
When you look back over your life, your best memories were probably not the ones when you were gathered with your friends, classmates, or coworkers complaining about constant chores, difficult homework, or your demanding boss. Your favorite memories are likely ones where you were living in the moment: embracing life, laughing, and experiencing some sort of joy.
Spending time with positive people will ensure you have more of these types of moments and memories that you will be able to remember fondly in the future. If you want to live in the present and have a positive experience in life, you should spend time with people who want to do the same thing.
When you look back on your time working the night shift, do you want your memories to be full of bitterness and frustration, or do you want your memories to be about inside jokes with colleagues, laughter in the break room, and all the little moments of joy you found during each shift?
There are many people who talk about how they wish they had appreciated the “good old days” when they had the chance. If you surround yourself with positive people, you will be able to make the most of the “good old days” you’re experiencing now before they’re gone and it’s too late.
Having positive people in your life is crucial, especially when you work the night shift. While this can be easier said than done, if you take steps to become a more positive person yourself, you will find that you are surrounded by other positive people in no time.
Night Shift Nutrition is a community focused on living your best life, while working nights. We do this by sharing our experiences and science based educations. The point is to not only survive working nights but to thrive! If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of you can apply to join our facebook group or subscribe to our email list.
