The Fatigue Factor sneaks up on busy people and it can ruin their productivity. Think of it like a telegram from your body that’s telling you that you’re doing too much.
Recently, I experienced this scenario when I arrived home. When I reached my front door, I found that I was unable to unlock it. After about the third try, I realized why: I was trying to use my car’s door opener. Pressing a button that sent a radio signal was not going to have much of an impact on a door that requires a key.
It’s easy to laugh at this kind of moment but after the chuckle, you need to give it further consideration.
I realized that my mistake was the sign of mental fatigue. Like a road sign that warns of an upcoming hazard, you need to pay attention to it.
How many times do we down an extra cup of coffee and keep working, when the smart choice is to stop and get some rest. It’s rare that you can “work yourself out of fatigue.”
Some will argue that they can’t afford the loss of time that recharging requires. This assumes that tired people continue at the same level of productivity.
This is likely not the case as we tend to make lots of mistakes when we’re tired. These go beyond using the wrong car keys on a door. Typos, sections left out of contracts, and not following up with a client are common problems. Later, how much extra time will you have to spend to clean up those mistakes?
Most people are good at working hard. That’s easy until you become burned out.
What we need are people who understand the value of pacing. We salute marathon runners for their extreme attention to detail as they run their races. So why aren’t we doing it in the workplace?
Smart leaders realize that today’s working world cannot be run the same way as a factory. Find people who understand when their productivity is running low and know it’s time to recharge. Define recharging, whether it’s taking a 15 minute break, going home early, or getting additional help with tasks. Create a process that allows tired people to “tap out” before their productivity drops through the floor.
It’s a different way of thinking but if you embrace it, you’ll see fewer mistakes and fewer meltdowns.
Want some more tips that will make you and your team more productive? You’ll find 26 actionable strategies in my new book, Stuck on Yellow. Click below to find out more:
