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Thinking hard is as tiring as physical labour....
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Experts have revealed that desk jobs are as exhausting for the human brain and body as physical work.
Scientists explained that long periods of concentration cause toxic chemicals to build up in the brain and means it must power down to protect itself - making us feel tiredness.
People who rack their brains at work showed the same signs of weariness as if they were physically exhausted, including smaller pupils and making lazy choices.
For the study, 40 people spent six hours on puzzles and those who completed hard tasks made easier decisions at the end of the day - choosing a smaller, faster reward as opposed to waiting for a bigger prize.
Tests also showed a bigger build-up of brain molecules called glutamate in those who completed the difficult puzzles. These are important for brain function but are dangerous in large amounts, meaning the brain must work less if levels get too high.
Brain expert Dr. Mathias Pessiglione said: "Fatigue would be a signal that makes us stop working to preserve brain function.
"Glutamate regulation has been pointed out as an essential component in the brain's energy budget and is a potential source of cognitive fatigue."
Really...... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think there's elements of truth to this; there's days where I haven't moved much physically but gotten through a big workload and feel completely exhausted.
Saying that, I think mental exhaustion and physical exhaustion are two very different feelings so it's hard to compare.
Can we not just agree that hard work in general is tiring? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour."
Compare** |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**"
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?"
You don't go to the gym to get exhausted though, you go to get absolutely wham |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?
You don't go to the gym to get exhausted though, you go to get absolutely wham"
 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?"
for some, thinking can cause injury too |
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Having worked both I would actually say the office environment and mental strain is more damaging to health in the long term.
Mental exhaustion can mean that you don’t have the mental motivation to then make good health choices such as exercise and healthy eating
Marc |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?"
Given your responses on here I believe you may struggle a bit with the thinking really hard part 
Obviously the sensations experienced with physical and mental tiredness are going to vary but it is absolutely possible to feel total exhaustion from high levels of concentration.
Mr |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?
You don't go to the gym to get exhausted though, you go to get absolutely wham"
Do you wanna get absolutely wham?  |
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"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?
You don't go to the gym to get exhausted though, you go to get absolutely wham"
George Michael |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour."
While I totally believe call centre work can be extremely draining, I'm not convinced it counts as difficult mental work. For the study they used people having to solve hard puzzles. My experience with call centres is that they can and do employ some staff for whom working out which shoe goes on which foot is a challenge suggesting the work isn't likely to be mentally taxing for the average person.
Mr |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again. "
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
While I totally believe call centre work can be extremely draining, I'm not convinced it counts as difficult mental work. For the study they used people having to solve hard puzzles. My experience with call centres is that they can and do employ some staff for whom working out which shoe goes on which foot is a challenge suggesting the work isn't likely to be mentally taxing for the average person.
Mr"
I haven’t read the report/study but I can guarantee call centre work is kore draining than a bit of working out. It’s horrendous. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
While I totally believe call centre work can be extremely draining, I'm not convinced it counts as difficult mental work. For the study they used people having to solve hard puzzles. My experience with call centres is that they can and do employ some staff for whom working out which shoe goes on which foot is a challenge suggesting the work isn't likely to be mentally taxing for the average person.
Mr
I haven’t read the report/study but I can guarantee call centre work is kore draining than a bit of working out. It’s horrendous."
Especially if you get a customer like my mum. She’s a real pain in the arse. A proper K word. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?
You don't go to the gym to get exhausted though, you go to get absolutely wham
Do you wanna get absolutely wham? "
Thought I already was  |
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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in Co. Down |
I wouldn't have thought it would have taken a bunch of experts doing research for people to realise that a job that is mentally draining is as tiring as a job that is physical.My job can be both and some days the days where you have had to deal with just the mental aspect of it can leave you just as tired as days where you are physically wrecked. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it."
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers. "
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
While I totally believe call centre work can be extremely draining, I'm not convinced it counts as difficult mental work. For the study they used people having to solve hard puzzles. My experience with call centres is that they can and do employ some staff for whom working out which shoe goes on which foot is a challenge suggesting the work isn't likely to be mentally taxing for the average person.
Mr
I haven’t read the report/study but I can guarantee call centre work is kore draining than a bit of working out. It’s horrendous.
Especially if you get a customer like my mum. She’s a real pain in the arse. A proper K word. "
I’m sure she’s an absolute angel  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better."
I heard |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better.
I heard"
You were supposed to. I would never be polite to you on the phone or the internet or by email or person or ever. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better.
I heard
You were supposed to. I would never be polite to you on the phone or the internet or by email or person or ever."
You were last night! I screenshot, I printed, I framed it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better.
I heard
You were supposed to. I would never be polite to you on the phone or the internet or by email or person or ever.
You were last night! I screenshot, I printed, I framed it. "
That was Mrs NE. She stole my phone. |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"Maybe I’ll think about a session in the gym if a try really hard I’ll be exhausted after an hour who comes up with this nonsense?"
Why do you think it's nonsense? There are different types of exhaustion. The fatigue you feel in your muscles after physical exertion is not the same as the fatigue you feel when you have been around people too much, and that is different to the mental fatigue you feel with mental exertion. Boredom is also tiring.
The body's response is to leave you tired.
Even 'tired' comes in different qualities. You are more likely to sleep well with physical exertion. Mental exertion is hard to turn off and can lead to poorer quality sleep.
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better.
I heard
You were supposed to. I would never be polite to you on the phone or the internet or by email or person or ever.
You were last night! I screenshot, I printed, I framed it.
That was Mrs NE. She stole my phone."
You mean I've been talking to the guy this whole time!!!  |
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By *bi HaiveMan
over a year ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
What about if your job requires high degrees of concentration and mental processing WHILST on your feet a day and using heavy equipment being constantly moved? 
Where does that sit on the sliding scale of who has it rougher between desk jobs or physical labour? Because I can rell you now it's probably twice as exhausting as doing one or the other.
A |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I’ve worked both and it’s a completely different type of exhaustion.
I’ve been mentally exhausted from call centre work but it doesn’t conpare to the aches and pains I get from manual Labour.
Compare**
Oh god I remember my call centre days. It's the emotional exhaustion from the desperation of wanting the day to end more than anything. Never again.
Being told to get a real job 100x a day and being called a foreigner by anyone south of Leeds because I’m a Geordie
I do not miss it.
It was the extra 3 seconds of putting someone on hold to take a deep breath for me.
I starkly remember one guy who started having a go and then stopped and went "you know what, you don't even get paid enough for me to bother yelling at you".
As soon as he hung up I burst out crying and had to answer the next call still in tears.
I am SO fucking nice to call centre workers.
I used to mute the call and swear at them. They didn’t hear it but it made me feel better.
I heard
You were supposed to. I would never be polite to you on the phone or the internet or by email or person or ever.
You were last night! I screenshot, I printed, I framed it.
That was Mrs NE. She stole my phone.
You mean I've been talking to the guy this whole time!!! "
I’ve got the nicer tits so I can see how you got confused. |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"What about if your job requires high degrees of concentration and mental processing WHILST on your feet a day and using heavy equipment being constantly moved?
Where does that sit on the sliding scale of who has it rougher between desk jobs or physical labour? Because I can rell you now it's probably twice as exhausting as doing one or the other.
A"
I don't doubt it.
I think the other element is that we all have different energy levels to start with. If you can fit some movement and a change of pace into your mental exertions you return refreshed. If you can fit some thinking time away from the physical exertion you return refreshed.
Physical pain is also draining.
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My jobs harder than your job 
Why do people over a certain age argue about who is the most tired?
Let's just agree we're all knackered "
But I’m more knackered |
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