Managing Mental Fatigue: How to Stay Productive and Avoid Burnout
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While physical labor comes with clear safety guidelines, mental heavy lifting often goes unnoticed until it affects performance and well-being. New brain imaging techniques reveal that mental fatigue is real and impacts how efficiently we think and make decisions. Tasks like solving complex problems, resisting distractions, and sustaining attention without breaks accelerate mental fatigue.
To combat this, taking regular breaks, limiting intense work to four hours a day, and using motivation can help maintain mental clarity. Short, frequent breaks during intense tasks and less demanding daily activities can keep your brain refreshed and prevent burnout. Recognizing mental fatigue as a real occupational hazard is key to preserving long-term performance and health.
How to Manage — and Avoid — Mental Fatigue (HBR, Storoni, 10/8).
