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Rest Strategies for 3 Brain Work Exhaustion Types

When Plain-O-Sleep and Coffee No Longer Do the Trick

Author

Kim Pivot
June 07, 2024

Thought

Have you ever wondered why you canā€™t seem to shake your fatigue, despite getting a full night's sleep?

After countless cups of coffee, trying different diets, routines and sleep schedules, the solution actually lies in understanding the unique types of exhaustion you experience and tailor your effort to address them accordingly.

Scoop

Rest After Manual Work

For those engaged in manual work, the best way to recover your body from physical exhaustion is through sleepā€”allowing your muscles to repair and your energy levels to replenish. Straight forward.

An illustration of a serene and minimalistic workspace with a large window showing a scenic view, a person working at a modern desk with a computer, a cup of coffee, a small plant, and a notepad

Workspace for optimal brain work and rest

Rest After Brain Work

Interestingly, more sleep isnā€™t always the answer after brain-intensive tasks. In fact, excessive sleep can sometimes lead to increased fatigue.

There are three types of brain work exhaustion requiring unique approaches to rest:

1. Physical Stillness Exhaustion

When you spend long hours sitting and working on a computer, your brain is active, but your body remains still. This type of exhaustion results from prolonged inactivity.

The best remedy is engaging in cardio exerciseā€”like cycling, jogging, or a brisk walk. Physical activity in this case helps to invigorate your body and freshen up your mind.

2. Repetitive Task Exhaustion

Working on repetitive tasks for extended periods can lead to mental fatigue, as specific areas of your brain are overstimulated while others remain underutilized. For example, spending hours refining font, color, animation settings in PowerPoint presentation can be draining.

To counter this, switch tasks to stimulate different parts of your brain. For those always pressing to make the most out of available time, you can ā€œrestā€ by transitioning to activities like financial analysis, and switching to reading non-fiction books.

This approach allows the overstimulated brain areas to rest while keeping your productivity high.

3. Willpower Exhaustion

Forcing yourself to do tasks you dislike can deplete your willpower, leading to a unique type of mental fatigue.

When you're worn out from making difficult decisions or pushing through undesirable tasks, a short nap of 20 minutes can quickly restore your willpower and boost your overall energy levels.

Resources

The Pomodoro Technique - This time management method helps you break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Itā€™s perfect for preventing repetitive task exhaustion.

Deskercise: 33 Smart Ways to Exercise at Work - This article from Greatist provides practical exercises you can do at your desk to combat physical stillness exhaustion.

How to Take a Power Nap - The Sleep Foundation offers insights into the benefits of power naps and how to take them effectively to recharge your willpower.

The Science of Willpower: Kelly McGonigal's TED Talk - Not so much on the topic of rest but the in vivo experiment on the promise of happiness vs willpower to exerting self-control is thought provoking.

Last Word

Recognizing the type of work you do and the specific exhaustion it causes can significantly enhance your rest and recovery strategies.

Listen to your body and mind, and give them the rest they need to perform at their best.

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