On The Psychology Of Work Fatigue

We are all familiar with a long day at work. Maybe we couldn’t focus, or missed an important deadline, or maybe our energy was just not up to snuff. When we get home after a day like that, we may feel like just crawling into bed and calling it a night. But this may do more harm than good.

 

While there is nothing wrong with indulging in the occasional after-work nap, prolonged feelings of exhaustion beyond tiredness could be indicative of a larger problem: work fatigue. On its own, fatigue is understood as a state of mental and physical exhaustion. Athletes amidst rigorous training regimens will be familiar with this experience, but they aren’t necessarily the only ones. Though not entirely certain, scientists theorize that fatigue exists as a natural reminder for us to focus on other tasks. Evolutionary this means alerting us to procure a meal, find shelter, and other basic survival instincts. Today we are no longer required to hunt for our own food, but feelings of fatigue don’t becomes obsolete and may still even serve as a mental reminder to address our physical and emotional needs during periods of stress.

 

Combat your work fatigue and get back to doing what you love by checking in on the inside. Take a look at this infographic for more on the psychology of work fatigue, what happens when we ignore it, and how we can build a work/life balance that is uniquely our own.