Hot yoga, 200 grams of protein, and date nights: How a nurse and Chippendales dancer find balance in their night shifts
Mary Kate Waldrow; Chippendales
- Two people working night shifts share how they protect their mental and physical health.
- Late shift work is linked to higher anxiety and depression.
- A nurse and Chippendales dancer share how they find time for sleep, exercise, and relaxation.
Ryan Kelsey wakes up most mornings before 11 a.m. so he doesn't waste his day sleeping.
It's a part of his daily routine that makes dancing at Chippendales in Las Vegas six nights a week manageable. Kelsey also aims to eat at least 200 grams of protein, maintain his rigorous workout schedule, and find time for date nights with his wife.
"I still want to go out to a nice dinner with my wife every once in a while and get dessert, a glass of wine, and all that stuff," said Kelsey.
Shift work, which is defined as work arrangements that are outside typical hours, was significantly associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression, per an article from the JAMA Network published in 2023. For those who hold shifts outside the traditional 9-to-5, practicing self-care is an important part of work-life balance.
Business Insider spoke to two people about how they manage working nights while maintaining their health.
Winding down and getting sleep
The Chippendales have a residency at the Linq Hotel and the dancers must arrive at the venue an hour before their 9:30 p.m. show. Performances go until 11 p.m., Kelsey said.
After performing, the cast takes pictures with their fans for about 30 minutes and Kelsey usually makes it home after midnight.
"Our show is so physical and sometimes it's a few hours before I'm able to knock out," Kelsey said of winding down after work.
Mary Kate Wardlow, 24, also tries to sleep during the day when she's working the night shift as an orthopedic nurse in Chicago. She's in her second year on the job — where she has three 12-hour shifts weekly — and shares her experience in the nursing field on her social media pages.
"I am beyond tired," she said in one TikTok after completing a night shift. "I've been awake for over 24 hours now."
In addition to napping, Waldrow downs energy drinks to stay awake through the grogginess.
"Immediate change in mental health back on a normal sleep schedule," Waldrow wrote on TikTok when summarizing her experience last April, during her first year as a nurse, when she switched from the night to day shift.
Waldrow declined to share how much she earns, but the average hourly pay for an entry-level nurse in Chicago is $38, per ZipRecruiter.
Maintaining health and building lives outside work
To keep up with the physique required for the show, Kelsey said he lifts weights five days a week and does cardio four to six days a week. Kelsey is a veteran of the strip show; after more than 10 seasons, he's looking forward to a pay bump that will push him into the six figures on his annual earnings. However, he declined to share specific numbers.
To be sure, Chippendales made headlines in October when the dancers announced their intention to unionize with the Actors' Equity Association, asking for better wages and working conditions. The union has since also filed an unfair labor practices charge against the company for alleged union-busting practices.
Displaying work-life balance on her social media accounts is important to Waldrow, who wants to provide positive representation for nurses online. Federal authorities project there will be a shortage of 63,720 full-time nurses in 2030, per an analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2022.
Waldrow also shows how she takes care of her mental and physical health, including attending hot yoga classes and taking vacations.
For example, at the end of a 12-hour shift earlier this month, Waldrow had to call the behavior emergency response team to de-escalate a situation with a confused patient. "I had to take a little bit of time, decompress," she said in a TikTok after the incident. "Grateful to have a few days off after that shift."
As Kelsey approaches turning 40, he's mindful of the importance of rest to protect the longevity of his career.
"At some point you're going to age out of the show. An injury stops something short or you just decide emotionally you want to move on," Kelsey said. "I will be on stage as long as they let me."
Do you have tips for working atypical hours at your job? Reach out to this reporter at jdeng@insider.com.