Maintaining 100 percent productivity can be a complex mission due to fatigue. It’s normal to feel burned out at work. It’s a more prevalent condition this decade, affecting traditional and remote employees alike. An Indeed study showed that 52 percent of workers feel tired at their jobs in 2021, nine percent more than a year earlier.
Is fatigue a direct effect of work? Yes. It is a normal consequence because the human body uses energy that, like traditional energy, needs to be renewed after exhausting the available resources. All jobs reflect different results on fatigue.
A US News article shows the top 25 of the most stressful jobs in America based on surveys. In the list below, you’ll see the first five places in this ranking:
- Finance Manager
- Lawyer
- Physician
- Construction Manager
- IT Manager
Other occupations included in this list are nurses, web developers, graphic designers, police officers, and software engineers.
How to Fight Burnout at Work?
It’s difficult to create a universal guide because the demands of each job are different. The stress and fatigue levels also depend on the workers. Many people can easily work long hours, while others quickly suffer from mental exhaustion. In the paragraphs below, we will show you three tips to reduce or eliminate fatigue during your work days. Apply each of these points when necessary.
Apply Timed Breaks
Some believe that continuous work is the best way to complete an activity. The result may be faster, but your mental and physical health is in danger. Timed breaks are a great way to create the perfect balance between work and rest.
This technique is common in office and freelance jobs. Exposure to a computer screen for many hours can affect your vision, spine, and brain. How does this strategy work? The scheme consists of repetition:
- Start your work day and eliminate all distractions like cellphones, chats with colleagues, and television.
- Complete between 1-2 hours of uninterrupted work.
- Take a 15-minute break. During this time, you can get up from your chair, drink water, stretch, walk, and then return to your workplace when the break is over.
- Repeat the process.
Ask for Help When Needed
Being self-sufficient can take you far in any project, demonstrating your aptitude levels and problem-solving skills. However, forcing self-sufficiency can be dangerous. Many managers, CEOs, supervisors, and coordinators tend to rely exclusively on their experience during difficult situations, increasing stress and emotional exhaustion.
In fact, asking for help is a collective benefit that improves your individual and collective performance. When you get a second opinion, your brain reduces exhaustion and works on fresh ideas. If you have a position where you must make decisions and solve problems, asking for help from your colleagues and other professionals will be the best technique for your health.
Invest in Mental Health
Despite the growth of this field in our society, mental health is still undervalued in many industries. The development of technology, connectivity, and more comfortable workspaces are still not enough to stop the job stress figures. Remember that anxiety, stress, and depression are illnesses like any other, and it’s okay to talk about them.
If you have a job that requires a lot of concentration and physical effort, you should invest in your mental health. We recommend attending therapies with psychologists and other experts in this field. A professional session can help you discover the tools to deal with burnout and become a healthy and efficient employee at the same time. You can access consultations and digital resources from home thanks to the internet.
Conclusion
Work fatigue can be the beginning of other problems in your body. Never underestimate your health and mental stability, as the effects may be greater than you think. No job, role, or salary can be more important than your well-being. Follow our tips above and find the perfect balance between work, responsibility, and health.
About the Author
David Torrealba is an experienced content writer whose previous work experience includes social services, SEO writing, and journalism. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication and Print Journalism from Universidad del Zulia.
