Mental fatigue and how it affects efficiency at work
-
Loading... - Wilson Cosmas
- 18 Jan 2022
- 422 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Entrainment, that is, a biological, behavioural, physical and mental adaptation with our tasked life and the persons we interact with, often comes automatically. In a way, this makes people forget that there is always need for rest, even when routine demands more from us and there are fears of not getting things done when we rest.
Work and rest ought to relate in a balanced scale, this not only caters for the wellbeing of the worker, but also for creativity, innovativeness and efficiency at the task given. When the balance is due, the physical fatigue quickly heals.
Experts explain fatigue as, “a physiological state of reduced mental and physical capability, which may develop as a result of sleep loss or extended wakefulness, disrupted circadian rhythm or increased workload.” For the sake of clarity, circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioural changes that follow a 24 hours cycle.
What are the possible harms?
To begin with, mental fatigue is instigated by a number of things, among others: tension of deadlines and over-calculated workload, pressure of chain-work, routine, noise at workplace, irritation and verbal abuses, exploitation, and poor working conditions like dirty environment, and insufficient lighting and air circulation.
Mental fatigue develops from mental over-activity, and it makes one use excessive mental effort in a task than is necessary. Though it is a physical condition, it leads to other psycho-pathologies. It is also a societal concern as it directly affects human integral development, functionality, productivity, wellbeing and progress, especially in our times.
Mental fatigue goes a long way to affect one’s physical wellbeing, emotions, feelings, appetite, taste, aspirations and disposition. It makes people deliver the minimum as one loses attachment with what he or she does, and begins doing the same as a fulfillment of duty.
What do experts say?
Dr Fii Pendaeli, a Tanzanian who is a practising General Adult Psychiatrist at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and a trustee of Tanzania-UK Health Diaspora Association (TUHEDA), says triggers of mental exhaustion are also subject to individual response. That means, some factors are common to others while others are different. People have different capabilities for adaptation and tolerance.
Dr Pendaeli enumerated among others, things that can make the brain go to ‘overdrive’. They include: dissatisfaction with one’s job and its conditions, stresses of finance and poverty, working long hours, continuously working in emergency situations or under pressure, taking care of people with permanent disabilities, chronic illnesses, and the aging, whose change in behaviour can be distressing.
Mental fatigue can also be triggered by debts, responsibilities, poor balance of needs and resources available, child birth, loss of loved ones, poor ‘work – life balance’, not resting and lack of social support; that is, having no friends to visit and no one to confide in.
Workplace policies
Employers should provide moral support to help prevent mental exhaustion among the workers. It is encouraged that employers and supervisors give constructive feedback and correction. Team work should be encouraged and facilitated as the human interaction at work is itself a remedy to the daily stresses at work.
It is encouraged that the workplace environment be conducive for health and safety. Health in this case, encompasses all aspects of the wellbeing of the individual, of which mental and psychological health is necessarily a part. Together with that, employees are to be encouraged, both in policies and in practice, to speak what they feel as regards their overall health status and psycho-social wellbeing. Read More…
