Humanity is approaching the “infinite working day”, warns a new Microsoft report.
The analysis of the technological giant, examining annual trends at work, discovered that workers around the world receive about 117 emails per day, as well as 153 messages of Microsoft equipment.
“The leaders are feeling the squeery. With flat budgets and growing pressure to perform, 1 in 3 employees in our global survey of work trends rates replied that the work rate in the last five years has made it impossible to keep the pace,” Microsoft said, and added that the modern work day does not have a clear start or end point for many employees.
The conclusions of the report highlight the repercussions of this environment. These consequences include an increasingly important chronic health problem known as exhaustion.
What is exhaustion?
The endless amounts of work can lead to physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and feelings of incompetence or lack of achievements. The feeling has been equated to carry a “potato save all the time.”
It can result in a greater dependence on drugs or alcohol, altered sleep or eating habits, headaches and stomach problems without a known cause, lethargy, depression, lack of focus and other mental symptoms identified by the Mayo Clinic. The most hours and heavy workloads can make things worse, resulting in a higher risk of heart disease, headache and musculoskeletal pain.
“There are many potential causes of exhaustion in current workplaces: excessive workloads, low levels of support, have little said or control over matters in the workplace, lack of recognition or rewards for the efforts of one and interpersonally toxic and unfair work environments,” said Dr. Mindy Shoss, professor of psychology at the University of Florida Central, in a statement. “Add to that the constant buzzing of uncertainty about a possible recession, and it is not surprising that exhaustion is increasing in many workplaces.”
The way in which it is generalized exhaustion is not clear, but approaching it can help both employers and employees. A 2024 survey of more than 2,000 full -time American workers discovered that more than half of the respondents reported that they felt exhausted during the past year.
How do we solve it?
Well, the solution is not embarrassed to employees.
May Clinic reports that people communicate with their bosses, practice relaxation activities, exercise and sleep well, and seek professional help. But people can also take “micro-over”, prioritize work recovery and practice regulate their emotions.
Changing the logistics of how it works can also have a great impact in terms of responsibilities and hours.
Microsoft, who has invested great in artificial intelligence, says that technology could be a way of helping in the future.
But, even just placing could work for you.
Or, do nothing at all, said Dr. Ron Goetzel, director of the Institute of Health and Productivity Studies of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Public School of Public Health. The New York Times. “It's okay to harass and look at the roof,“, Said. “People should do more of that.”
