Lighten Your Load - Boosting Your Natural Energy: Chronic Fatigue

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Lighten your load

One of the main reasons for fatigue is overwork. Overwork can include professional, family, and social obligations. A good first step toward relieving overwork is to try to streamline your list of "must-do" activities. You don't need to accept every social invitation, volunteer for every work assignment, or run the entire community fund-raiser yourself. Some people are overloaded because they have trouble saying "no." If you already have more responsibilities than you can comfortably handle, don't take on any more. Set your priorities in terms of the most important tasks. Pare down those that are less important.

Overwork that's strictly job-related is particularly hard to control. If you work in a company or a profession where very long days are the norm, it may not be easy to lighten your load. Learn efficiency techniques that let you meet your work goals without working harder or longer than necessary. Consider asking for extra staff or temporary assistance at work. Evaluate whether your current position is a good fit or whether a different position either within your company or elsewhere might make a difference. Would a part-time position be an option, financially or professionally? If your doctor has determined that your heavy workload is the cause of your fatigue, he or she may be able to provide a letter to your supervisor explaining the diagnosis and making some recommendations.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007