Continental shift patternWhat it means, in plain English

A continental shift pattern is a fast-rotating 24/7 pattern in which teams work short runs of mornings, afternoons and nights, commonly two or three of each, before a block of rest days. Four crews typically rotate through the cycle, averaging around 42 hours per week. The quick rotation is intended to limit the strain of long runs of nights, though it gives staff less routine than slower rotations.