Work Well-being and Coping at Work – What Affects Work Ability and Alertness? Coping at work is built on several fundamental elements. Conditions for coping include good working conditions, competence, meaningful work, recovery during the workday and leisure time, as well as good work ability. Work ability can be influenced by taking care of one’s…
Coping at work is built on several fundamental elements. Conditions for coping include good working conditions, competence, meaningful work, recovery during the workday and leisure time, as well as good work ability. Work ability can be influenced by taking care of one’s health, for example, through good nutrition and exercise.
Fatigue and general inability to cope are all too familiar in many workplaces. As symptoms accumulate, sick leaves increase. At the same time, work efficiency and the quality of work results suffer. What can you do yourself to enhance your coping at work?
Sometimes it feels like, even when working with the last of your resources, proper results are not necessarily achieved. Sleep suffers, recovery is insufficient, and stress levels increase. Resources are depleted even outside of working hours. After a workday, there is no energy left to care for family and personal well-being.
At worst, this creates an unpleasant cycle of fatigue and feelings of inadequacy, which can lead to more severe health problems if the situation persists. What should be done in such a situation? What factors can cause this fatigue and feeling of powerlessness? How can you influence your own alertness?
Assessing the factors affecting coping at work helps to identify the cause of a possible decline in alertness. Restoring the body’s alertness to normal positively impacts both coping and mood.
Rising energy levels at the workplace create a good atmosphere and promote enjoyment at work. An energetic employee is efficient and well-being, and thus can also assist others!
By identifying the reasons for the decline in alertness, we can:
Puhti’s laboratory tests related to alertness and health reveal whether the conditions for alertness and coping are in place. Through measurement, you can learn how to promote your own—or even the entire work community’s—health and coping! If necessary, it is also good to consult a doctor if there is a suspicion of illness.
Continuous daytime fatigue is not normal, and the situation should be addressed before becoming accustomed to it. Fatigue can be caused by exhaustion, physical symptoms, mental or physical illness, or a deficiency in vitamins or minerals due to a one-sided diet or other reasons. For example, iron deficiency anemia or thyroid dysfunction affects coping both at work and during leisure time. Sometimes diabetes can also be behind fatigue.
Iron deficiency drains energy – The condition is unfortunately common
Iron deficiency can cause fatigue, decreased alertness, low mood, and lethargy. It is estimated that 25–40 percent of women experience iron deficiency anemia at some point in their lives. Iron deficiency is quite common among women of childbearing age.
Ferritin stores the body’s iron. If this storage protein is too low in the body, the iron level is also low. Measuring ferritin reveals the body’s stored iron level and whether a person has iron deficiency.
Thyroid function also affects coping
A fatigued person may unknowingly suffer from, for example, hypothyroidism. Factors related to alertness and coping should always be investigated to ensure proper treatment.
Thyroid function affects alertness and coping, among other things. Hypothyroidism can cause slow thinking, difficulty remembering, and weight gain, as it slows down the body. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, makes the body function as if accelerated, which can also cause fatigue.
Thyroid dysfunctions always require medical treatment. Through Puhti, you can access tests without a referral and take the results to your doctor.
Supporting metabolism, aiming for a normal weight, an appropriate amount of exercise, sufficient breaks during the workday, and maintaining stable blood sugar levels are everyday ways to care for the body’s alertness and personal health.
Ensuring a regular eating schedule and diverse meals is important. Skipping nutritious meals and healthy snacks is not beneficial. Breakfast and evening snacks are also important to ensure stable blood sugar and adequate energy intake. For example, oatmeal in the evening can help improve sleep.
The brain also needs energy. The purpose of lunch and other meals during the day is to provide energy to the body and mind, not to cause fatigue. If you feel tired after a meal and in the afternoon at work, it may indicate too large portion sizes or excessive carbohydrates in a single meal. Smaller portion sizes can help.
Regular exercise (both aerobic training and strength training) is naturally part of maintaining personal health. Increasing physical activity can help improve sleep and recovery, as well as promote healthy weight management. However, it’s important to note that intense training by active athletes increases the need for sleep.
Changes in work habits, daily routines, and lifestyle are not always easy, but their impact on overall well-being and alertness is significant. Following personal values motivates change and helps keep track of the body’s condition.
Order health and coping-related lab packages from Puhti:
Through Puhti, you can access all tests easily and quickly, without a doctor’s referral. You receive the test results in a clear report, showing which values are within reference ranges and what different values mean. Puhti’s results service also provides in-depth articles on health and information on how you can improve your well-being and promote coping! If necessary, you can also order a separate remote consultation with a doctor.
Puhti laboratory package includes many different tests that give you a wide range of information on how your body is doing. It includes blood count, cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamin D, ferritin, inflammatory status and tests of the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
Extensive Puhti laboratory package (women) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamins D and B12, ferritin, and sodium.
Extensive Puhti laboratory package (men) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The Puhti laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, important vitamins, ferritin and testosterone.
The package designed for active individuals includes, in addition to the Puhti laboratory package, important metrics for those who exercise. It includes tests important for performance and recovery, such as iron and vitamin D levels, magnesium, vitamin B12, and potassium related to fluid balance.
The package designed for active individuals includes, in addition to the Puhti laboratory package, important metrics for those who exercise. It includes tests important for performance and recovery, such as iron and vitamin D levels, magnesium, and also vitamin B12, potassium related to fluid balance, and free calculated testosterone.
With the laboratory package, you get comprehensive information about how your body is doing. It includes, for example, a basic blood count, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, potassium, sodium, ferritin, and vitamin D.
With the laboratory package, you get comprehensive information about how your body is doing. It includes, among other things, a basic blood count, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, essential vitamins, as well as PSA and free calculated testosterone.
The test is personal; the order must be made with your own information. If you want to order a test for someone else,
Puhti laboratory package tells you how your body is doing and how to improve your health and boost your energy levels. We believe that everyone deserves more energy .
Blood count is a series of tests that measure the hemoglobin level in the blood and count the number of blood cells.
Testosterone is the most important sex hormone in men. It affects, for example, sex drive and mood. The test measures the amount of total testosterone.
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Article updated:
23 April 2025