Fight Winter Fatigue

The winter months put a stress on our bodies that is often tough to shake during its cold, dark days. But just because our bodies don’t want to get moving, doesn’t mean it’s healthy to lie around. And for PLH Group teams, we have energy-focused construction services that need delivered to keep our nation’s homes, businesses, and communities shining brightly, despite the sun’s reluctance to do so. But we know this fatigue can risk worker health and safety if not proactively avoided.

According to the Sleep Foundation, sleepiness affects 10-20% of Americans. Its impacts include inability to stay alert, focus, or concentrate; increased risk-taking behaviors; slowed reaction times; difficulty making decisions; irritability; memory problems; and trouble remembering new concepts.

“We often don’t think about how our behaviors at home – like those that increase fatigue – affect our work performance. But in this case, there are serious consequences to the sluggish feelings we get this time of year,” said Vice President of Safety, Health, and Environmental Elsie Bentley. “We work with our employees to ensure they are taking care of themselves to protect the health and safety of the entire job site.”

So how can you combat winter fatigue? Here are a few tips to keep yourself alert and energized:

• Eat right. Sugary foods and drinks give only a temporary jolt of energy. Instead, stick to nutritious foods and drinks. Avoid alcohol, which increases the sluggish feeling of fatigue.
• Get sleep. The Sleep Foundation reports that average adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Feelings of sleepiness are stronger while sedentary, such as while sitting at a computer or driving.
• Exercise. Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Exercise not only keeps your body healthy, but wakes it up, causing you to be more alert throughout your day.
• Reduce stress. Emotional concerns and stresses cause fatigue, which can lead to irritability, lack of motivation, and lack of attentiveness. Consider meditation, yoga, and other stress reducing activities to keep your mind alert and focused.
• Feel the sunshine. Melatonin is a hormone that your body releases in response to darkness. Well, thanks (or no thanks) to winter’s shorter, darker days, your body releases an increase of melatonin in the winter, causing an imbalance in your body’s circadian rhythm, or natural 24-hour body clock. Brighten and dim lights accordingly to help you stay awake during the day and sleep at night.

Combatting winter fatigue begins with caring for personal health. Eliminating fatigue on the job site protects not just individual employees, but the health and safety of the entire workforce.

PLH Group is a leading full-service construction and specialty contractor that serves the electric power and pipeline markets. PLH Group has assembled a North American team of top-quality companies that deliver services covering the broad range of needs of its customers – from pipeline construction and related directional drilling to electric transmission, distribution and substation construction, including specialized foundations and helicopter airborne operations. Safety, expertise, and collaboration distinguish PLH Group’s diversified infrastructure service solutions.