Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Fatigue is natural. Thinking that I can beat fatigue is wishful. Find a test that indicates your level of performance. Adjust your activities to meet your level. Fatigue beats wishes, but rest beats fatigue.

I wish that fatigue didn’t always win. I wish I conquered fatigue all the time. I that no matter how tired I am, I can overcome fatigue and do brilliant, wonderful, extraordinary things.

But these are only wishes.

There are some things I can do about fatigue. One is to maintain my physical, mental, and spiritual health. When I run three miles a day, four days a week, I am not tired after walking from my car to my office through the parking garage. When I exercise my mind regularly, small amounts of mental work do not tire me as much.

Training to build strength only goes so far. Fatigue still comes. What is there to do? I recommend learning how to recognize fatigue and adapt.

Jerry Weinberg once told me about a technique he uses to help recognize when he is tired. Jerry plays several computer solitaire games. He knows that when he is in good condition, he can win a certain percentage of the time on a certain game at a certain level. Therefore, when he suspects that he is tired, he plays that game at that level. If his percentage of winning drops below his known ability, he concludes that he is tired. Given that he is tired, he no longer attempts tasks that require good performance. He spends his time working simpler tasks and resting. Once rested, he returns to the more taxing tasks.

Find a performance test, like Jerry uses, that works for you. When you suspect that you are tired, test yourself. Adjust your activities appropriately.

Wishes won’t beat fatigue. Rest, however, wins every time.