Five Tips from Mehiläinen’s Occupational Health Psychologist: How to Recover During the Workday

Have you thought about how much strain your brain is under? Are you recovering well during the workday? Have you remembered to take breaks and eat your lunch on time? For knowledge workers, the number of mistakes increases and decision making abilities weaken when the brain is overloaded, and workdays are excessively long. In certain professions, this can even be dangerous, such as for vehicle drivers or pilots. But regardless of your job, it’s important to focus on recovery not only during your free time but also throughout the workday.

What Overloads Knowledge Workers?

As work has become more digitalised, the mental demands of work have increased. Many people become overwhelmed during the day due to the demands on information processing. Cognitive load has increased, requiring memory, efficiency, and constant problem solving. In addition to tasks, work conditions can also be stressful, with various disturbances and interruptions that negatively affect performance.
Brain health for working-age people is also threatened by chronic stress, loneliness, and inappropriate treatment. Brain health is closely linked to mental health, and prolonged cognitive strain combined with inadequate recovery can lead to burnout and brain related illnesses. This is why it’s essential to take care of the brain just like you would your body.

The expert for this article is Occupational Health Psychologist Sanna Turola

Five Tips for Brain Recovery from Occupational Health Psychologist Sanna Turola: How to Support Brain Health During the Workday

1. Take Breaks

Endurance is built from small things throughout the day, and recovery shouldn’t be reserved only for after work. Plan your breaks, lunches, and snacks in advance, and stick to them as diligently as you would to your tasks. Also, maintain social connections with colleagues during the workday, for example have coffee breaks together.

2. Give Your Brain Movement

The brain needs movement to stay healthy. Good recovery is built throughout the day. Make sure to stay active during the workday, whether you’re working remotely or in the office. Walk, stand up, and take short exercise breaks or even walking meetings.

3. Monitor the Signs of Overload  

Signs of overload include difficulty of starting new tasks or finishing existing ones, forgetfulness, slowness, and being late with tasks. Pay attention and take these early signs seriously.

4. Eat Well

Set aside time for lunch and stick to it. Focus on eating calmly and avoid browsing social media or checking emails while you eat.

5. Remember Flexibility

Accept that things may not always go as planned. Be kind to yourself when making adjustments.

You can now find a video series in Cuckoo under the Challenges section, where Occupational Health Psychologist Sanna Turola dives deeper into the topic of brain wellbeing. The videos contain useful information and more tips for making better choices in your daily life.

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