Recover from Work!

OCCUPATIONAL WORK CAPACITY CAPABILITIES 5/6
A student warming up the leg by bending the ankle.

Recover from work!

Working consumes energy and requires recovery. The need for people to recover from work is individual. However, common to all people is that everyone needs recovery. The same principle as in sports applies to work. 

Results and health deteriorate without adequate rest and time for recovery. A good metaphor for recovery is charging the battery. An empty battery does not start the car or turn on the phone. An employee, who has recovered from stress gets more done at work, actively takes initiative and learns new things. Sufficient work breaks are is refreshing and also help to avoid damages and accidents at work. 

The following promote recovery

N

Enough sleep

N

Relaxed lounging

N

Relaxing with a good movie, music or book

N

Exercise

N

Pleasing hobbies

N

Meeting friends

A person holds a tool thoughtfully in his hands.
It is advisable to dedicate leisure time and breaks to recovering from work. It is also worth remembering that recovery is not promoted by smoking and intoxicants – rather the opposite. Many workplaces are nowadays non-smoking, so skipping the smoking breaks already while studying helps to prepare for the working life and at the same time you learn to take work breaks rationally. 

You should not recover from work just by sitting down. Heavy work does not eliminate the disadvantages of lengthy sitting, which are caused by, for example, sitting down in front of the laptop after work for the rest of the evening. It is also advisable not to recover from stand-up work by sitting alone. Even if you would have spent the entire day at work on your feet, the disadvantages of sitting are caused by spending many hours in front of a TV or laptop after work.

Students in work overalls warming up and stretching their wrists by bending.

Take a work break! 

 

You can also pay attention to the recovery during the working day, e.g. at lunch and coffee breaks.  The type of work determines what kind of recovery provides an alternative to work. You should move if you have spent a long time sitting down. It is worth doing something less physical during the breaks when work is physically heavy.   

Work breaks are an effective means to prevent the disadvantages of work. Just a few seconds of rest after intense work is enough to reduce fatigue. Short breaks of a few seconds should be placed between the work phases. You can stop for a moment or correct your position during the short breaks. You can also stretch during the break, allowing the muscles to relax. 

Sitting for a long time puts the body to the test, so pay attention to the amount of sitting. Break exercise is one way to help you recover from the stress caused by lengthy sitting. Stretching, muscle movements, and exercise are important for sedentary workers, so be sure to exercise also during your spare time. Read more in the “Work capacity promoting exercise” section! 

Taking work breaks correctly at work is part of professional skills!

Read more

Istumisen haitat (Available only in Finnish)
Smart Moves

Istumispäivyri (Available only in Finnish)
Smart Moves

Back to top