How different types of fatigue affect our motivation and how to deal with them
Miscellaneous / / April 04, 2023
Verified experimentally.
What types of fatigue exist
The authors of one small research identified two types of fatigue. The first is reversible. It can be eliminated at the time of occurrence. The second is irreversible. In order to cope with it, you need a long break or 7-8 hours of sleep.
To find out how and when different types of fatigue occur, the researchers measured people's willingness to work during the day. The 36 participants in the experiment were repeatedly offered to squeeze a special device in their hand as hard as possible and receive money for each squeeze or take a break. The idea was to force people to choose between work and leisure. In normal life, this would mean choosing between spending 15 minutes on a work task or doing nothing for the same amount of time.
With each compression of the device, the study participants got more and more tired, in other words, they lost motivation. Nevertheless, after several breaks for rest, they continued to work. Although they still felt
fatigue, which accumulated throughout the experiment, and by the end of it, less effort was made for the same reward.The researchers suggested that at the end of the study, participants should have promised more money for each squeeze. device, because as the day progresses and fatigue increases, the value of rest becomes higher than the value work. This explains why we feel much less motivated at 5:00 pm than at 11:00 am, even if we're doing the same task and taking regular breaks.
How to recognize the type of fatigue and work with it
reversible fatigue
Some participants in the study quickly got tired and chose more frequent and short breaksto recover and return to the task at hand. Others, on the contrary, worked longer without rest and took less frequent but longer breaks. These differences illustrate the two possible forms that reversible fatigue takes.
If you belong to the first group and quickly expend energy, try to divide the day into small working segments with regular short breaks. And if you are from the second group and hold for a long time concentrationbut then need an extended break, make sure you have one big break in your schedule, like an hour for lunch or a walk in the park.
In any case, it's important not to waste either short or long breaks on mindless social media surfing, which the study authors say can sometimes take as much energy as work. It is better to go for coffee, have lunch, take a walk or chat with a colleague - all this helps to get rid of reversible fatigue.
Irreversible fatigue
As the name suggests, this type is much more difficult to deal with than the first. Unlike reversible fatigue, irreversible fatigue is associated with a natural decline in motivation that builds up throughout the day, even despite breaks. You can get rid of this condition only by getting enough sleep.
However, if it's only the middle of the day and you need to finish an important task, but you feel that your energy is running out, try to think of ways to reward yourself for your efforts. During the experiment, the scientists confirmed that increasing the amount of monetary incentives increased the willingness of participants to work, even when they experienced irreversible fatigue.
It's like a finish line. When athletes run marathon, they gradually slow down the pace, but then, when they see the finish line, they accelerate. Thinking about rewards at the end of a tough day, like a delicious dinner at a restaurant, watching your favorite TV show, or doing something else that makes you feel more motivated will boost your motivation. This will help you finish the job despite being tired.
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