Everyone has days when they’re tired at work. Maybe you stayed up late binging your favorite show, or maybe you had to get up early for an appointment. That day you’re probably going to feel tired at some point, which is completely normal. However, when you start to feel tired day after day you may be experiencing workplace fatigue. Workplace fatigue includes being both mentally and physically tired. It has a negative impact on your productivity, motivation, and concentration. Prolonged workplace fatigue can lead to burnout. Here are some ways for you to combat workplace fatigue before it leads to burnout:
Find a Good Time to Work
Are you a morning person? Are you a midday person? Or are you and evening person? Different people have different times of the day when they work best. Take time to figure out what time of day you’re most productive. Even if you can’t choose to only work at your most productive time, you can prioritize what work you do when. Save your important work for when you are most productive and spend the time you feel tired on less important tasks.
Create Opportunity for Motivation
Make sure your workspace motivates you to work. You might want to personalize your desk or remove as much clutter as you can. Additionally, try to stick to a daily routine to help you focus in on your work. This will help combat some of the negative effects of workplace fatigue.
Take Breaks
It’s important to take breaks while working. These breaks help to reset your mind for work and can make you more productive. Next time you’re feeling tired, take a 15 – 20 minute walk around your office. Invite a co-worker along and talk about something other than work.
Keep Work at Work
Too often work infringes on home life. Make sure that you’re giving yourself time completely away from work. This might mean turning off notifications for a weekend or maybe going out of town. This may be difficult if you are in a leadership position, but it is important for your employees to feel like it is okay to step away from work. They will look at your behavior as a model of what is valued and expected at the organization.
Use these ideas to help prevent workplace fatigue for yourself and your employees.