Experts Warn of Hidden Fatigue from Everyday Work Habits

May 04, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - More than half of working adults who show signs of severe fatigue believe they are in good health, according to a recent survey highlighting the hidden toll of habitual behaviors in the workplace.

As of early May, one month into Japan’s new fiscal year, many workers may already be feeling the strain of adjusting to new environments. A study conducted by Hot Pepper Beauty examined how fatigue is affecting working people and revealed some surprising insights.

In a diagnostic survey on fatigue levels, 53.7% of respondents fell into the "danger zone" for fatigue, yet 52.7% of them believed they were healthy. The survey was overseen by a medical expert who emphasized the risks associated with what is referred to as "habit fatigue"—a condition caused by unconscious behaviors that gradually wear down the body.

Such habits include actions as common as crossing one's legs, which can disturb the autonomic nervous system, compress blood vessels, and impair circulation, making fatigue accumulate more easily.

When asked about behaviors likely to lead to "habit fatigue" during work hours, the most cited were continuing tasks in the same position for too long (31.0%), standing or sitting for extended periods without movement (28.1%), and sitting with poor posture (26.5%). These seemingly minor actions, repeated daily, may be quietly sapping workers’ energy.

Source: FNN

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