Fatigue is dangerous—understand the harmful effects and learn how to manage your exhaustion

• Fatigue can be described as a state of exhaustion, which often results from overworking yourself mentally or physically.
• Large amounts of stress and anxiety that aren’t properly handled, as well as feeling bored or stuck, can lead to your feeling fatigued.
• Fatigue can have some pretty harmful effects from reduced concentration to irritability, reckless risk-taking, poor work quality, and even falling asleep behind the wheel.
• The aforementioned side effects signify the importance of recognizing fatigue and doing what you can to manage it.
• To properly manage your fatigue you should identify its source, get proper rest, engage in stress-relieving activities, and prioritize your overall health.

*Anna Lexi is a health enthusiast and blogger. She hopes to inform her readers of health concerns that they may not be aware of and provide solutions to help them. When she isn’t writing about health she can be found running.

Fatigue, or the state of feeling extremely tired, stems from several possible causes. The most direct causes of fatigue are lack of proper sleep and being either mentally or physically overworked. Other possible causes are prolonged periods of stress and anxiety, as well as being stuck in boring and/or repetitive tasks.

Being a workaholic is another definitive way to eventually suffer from regular bouts of fatigue. That’s why it’s important to slow down and remember to get sufficient rest, as a way to combat workaholism and the fatigue that can result. Because while being addicted to work might translate to some productivity-related benefits, there’s a huge chance that this will result in some form of chronic fatigue in the long run, which will ultimately harm your productivity.

Understanding the Harmful Effects of Fatigue

Apart from exhaustion or excessive sleepiness (including microsleeping), fatigue may also manifest as…

• Reduced concentration
• Impaired memory
• Irritability
• Depression
• Lack of motivation
• Headaches
• Lack of appetite
• Digestive problems
• Impaired resistance to illness or disease
• Reckless risk-taking

In short, untreated fatigue can reduce a worker’s ability to make sound decisions, communicate with others, or maintain focus and attention on the tasks at hand. Ultimately, this may result in more worker errors, absenteeism, and sick leaves. Certain accidents or unfortunate incidents, particularly in the heavy duty industries, can also be traced back to fatigue. If this work environment sounds familiar to you it is important to see a doctor, and find ways to stay alert and safe.

Irreversible Ramifications on the Road

Additionally, research via the CCOHS reveals that fatigue has an even deadlier effect on the road. The perception impairment that’s associated with a lack of sleep is directly comparable with the same impairment that’s associated with blood alcohol levels. Being awake for 21 hours straight for instance could impair your senses as much as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08%, which is the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in most US states.

This is the reason why the government brought in the ELD Mandate. It’s a new law that now requires all heavy trucks to install Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that record hours of service in order to prevent over-driving on our roads and highways. Verizon Connect details how ELDs provide automated timesheets that allow fleet operators to know exactly when their employees start work, take breaks, and stop working for the day. This allows the trucking industry to ensure that not a single truck on the road is being operated by a fatigued driver, thereby increasing road safety on a national level.

Don’t Waste Any More Time: Manage Chronic Fatigue

The only way to manage or eliminate chronic fatigue is to deal with its main sources: over-work, stress, lack of sleep, unsatisfying work conditions, or any combination of these factors. The good news is that this can be done in a number of ways. Talk to your company to see if they offer health benefits like gym or yoga memberships to employees. The benefits of moderate to strenuous exercise in improving sleep patterns are well-documented. Meanwhile, in the diet department, consult a nutritionist to ensure that you’re eating healthy. Whatever you put in your body definitely factors into how well you can process stress and other sources of fatigue.

If these methods don’t work for you, it’s time to talk to a professional. Ask your doctor, nutritionist, or physical trainer about lifestyle changes that can help manage chronic fatigue and its symptoms.

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