#WellnessWednesday - Managing fatigue during COVID-19
We have been through a lot these last few weeks and for many, dealing with the stress and anxiety of the current situation has been a challenge causing an increase in fatigue or a lack of motivation.
Whether you’re working from home or are working as an essential frontline worker, it’s important to manage this fatigue to ensure we’re able to show up effectively and safely for those who depend on us.
Tips for managing fatigue
To help us navigate these challenging times, here are some helpful reminders:
- Take frequent breaks. Get up and take breaks whenever possible. Ideally breaks should incorporate mild physical movement (e.g. walking, stretching) and/or breathing and mindfulness activities. If you’re stuck at a desk with no time to get up, you can try performing stretches at your workstation.
- Get quality sleep. 7-9 hours of sleep a night is recommended to increase overall productivity and concentration. The following tips promote a restful sleep:
- Sleep in a dark, cool and quiet room.
- Keep your sleep schedule consistent – do your best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- Implement a nighttime routine – take a shower, read a book, or listen to calming music before bed – these activities will act as cues so the body recognize that it is time to go to sleep.
- Hydrate often. When we feel fatigued one of the first things we reach for is a cup of coffee or energy drink. Try to avoid excessive caffeine intake. Caffeine might provide you with quick energy; however, if used in excess it can keep you awake at night, which can make you sleepier during the day. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can also lead to rebound fatigue after the caffeine leaves your system. Instead, reach for a glass of water and keep yourself hydrated.
- Create variety. Try varying your job tasks throughout the day to eliminate repetition or long periods of monotonous work. When you’re feeling restless with one task and it is possible to switch to another for a while, try that to give yourself a break.
- Take a quick ‘power-nap’. When used strategically, naps can improve performance in areas such as reaction time and logical reasoning. Keeping naps short – about 20 minutes in duration is great for getting a quick boost.
Share your wellness tips!
By now, we’ve all likely developed different coping mechanisms and ways of managing fatigue. These are just a few tips, but we’d love to hear what is working for you. Tell us about it on social media by tagging us and using the hashtag #WellnessWednesday.