FIFO is a type of long-distance commuting work that is becoming increasingly common amongst Australians.
Due to the nature of the mining and energy sectors, the geographic locations of these working environments can be vast and remote, which means that workers cannot return home after their shift is finished. Instead they reside remotely throughout their time on shift before returning home for their time off.
Here are 10 tips optimising life as a FIFO worker in Australia.
Expect to work long hours as a FIFO worker, it is not uncommon to work a 12-hour shift or longer on most days. A typical “swing” as they say in the industry, can be 14 days on, 7 days off, in which most workers would return to their home. However, this varies between sector and some employers are offering a 7/7 shift pattern in an attempt to boost career satisfaction.
Shift workers can often suffer from fatigue due to the long working hours and obscure shift patterns that the job entails. Shift work can play havoc with the body’s natural sleeping cycle which is why it is crucial to develop a routine and stick to it whilst working and during periods of leave.
While it is tempting to sleep in on your days off, if you are used to getting up quite early (say 5am everyday), switching your sleep pattern can seriously affect your general job performance and may even affect your health. Try to sleep no more than two hours over the usual time you wake up, to ensure you sleeping pattern is not distrupted.
One of the benefits of being a FIFO worker is being invited into a community of other workers sharing the same work patterns. Get involved with the sociable activities after work, create new friendships with your colleagues and enjoy the time you have with each other.
The type of projects that industries, such as minerals and energy, work on provide people with the opportunity to visit unique and diverse parts of Australia which have vibrant local communities. Some companies are actively encouraging their staff to become involved with these communities by supporting local charities and events. This can also provide workers with a connection to the places they are working in when they are away from home, making them feel less lonely.
Catered meals, buffet-style treats and a sociable dining atmosphere can make the temptation to pile your plate high hard to resist.
It is common for FIFO workers to gain weight during their time away, which can lead to health problems and hinder your job performance. While it is vital to properly fuel your body for the hard work ahead, you might regret overdoing it when the weight piles on.
Try to also avoid consuming high levels of caffeine and alcohol, as stimulants like these are known to have a negative effect on the physical and mental wellbeing. In short, just because you are away from home, that doesn’t mean you have to eat unhealthily.
Trying to juggle family commitments with friends and other activities during your time at home can be challenging. While seeing your family and partner may seem like the most important thing to you when you come home, try to make the effort to see your friends when you can to allow yourself a balance.
Remember that this is your time to relax, so don’t try to push yourself too hard to see everyone at the same time or else you will return to work feeling more exhausted than when you left.
Life as a FIFO worker can be incredibly financially rewarding, the challenging life away comes with a huge salary which means you can afford to provide your family with a comfortable lifestyle.
Create financial goals and ensure you get the advise to optimise your finances to make the most of your high income, high tax threshold and large superannuation contributions. If you want to know what options there are, Book an Appointment or Contact Us.
Advancements in technology have made it possible to stay connected to people when they are thousands of miles away from us. Staying in touch with family and friends via Skype, phone calls, texts and even letters will help you be there for your family emotionally when you’re not there physically.
Like every job, being a FIFO worker comes with its own stresses. A lot of people find that the remote location combined with the time spent away from family can be difficult to deal with, so finding what helps you to manage stress is essential for any FIFO worker.
Exercising may be the last thing on your mind after a hard day’s work but it’s still important to get regular exercise while you are working. Exercise can strengthen muscles, boost cardiovascular activity and more importantly help to reduce the levels of stress than can occur from working long shifts. When you exercise your body releases feel-good hormones called endorphins, so you should feel more relaxed and content after a workout.
There are many ways you could manage stress, watching your favourite TV show, playing a game of pool with your buddies or going for a run are just a few of the many ways to blow off steam post shift.
Most partners and families will understand that your week off is a time for you to get some well-deserved rest, but looking after a family is a full-time job too and you should consider that your partner may also need some downtime.
A lot of families find that it works well to let their FIFO partner sleep for the first day that they return home. Once they are adjusted they can assign themselves responsibilities like picking the kids up from school and giving their partner some time off too.
As we’ve stated, you don’t want to be over-exerting yourself on your week off, but by the same token you shouldn’t waste this time. Many FIFO workers live in growing cities and there is no shortage of things to do in these places.
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