After a long day at work, it's understandable that sometimes you want nothing more than to head home, take a nap or plop down on the couch for a few hours. Working can be stressful and tiring, and unwinding is a good way to cope. But when that tired feeling becomes frequent fatigue, you may be experiencing more than simple exhaustion after a hard day. Fatigue can affect your performance on the job and place stress on your time with your family.

Significance

A study led by researcher Tea Lallukka and the University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health in 2005 found that work fatigue was strongly associated with weight gain throughout the year. By taking the time to examine your fatigue and talk to your doctor about your symptoms, you may find an underlying reason for your fatigue to treat your symptoms more easily.

Symptoms and Warning Signs

Fatigue can make it difficult for you to concentrate in the workplace. You may notice that you make small mistakes that have big consequences. You may also find that your reaction time and decision-making skill are not as sharp as they could be. Repeated yawning and tiredness on the way home from work could complicate your commute. While some may be the simple symptoms of not getting enough sleep, constantly forgetting things, headaches, joint pain, consistent fatigue for more than six months, aches and fatigue that restricts your daily activities could be the sign of chronic fatigue syndrome, warns MedlinePlus website. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Causes

Fatigue after work can have a variety of causes, some of which are easy to remedy and some of which are more difficult to treat. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety notes that stress at work can harm your health and lead to emotional fatigue, leaving you tired and drained at the end of the day. Similarly, a job that you don't enjoy can make you feel tired and downtrodden. Your fatigue may also be the result of an underlying medical condition, including headache and migraines, pregnancy, chronic fatigue or a variety of other illness. Talk to your doctor about your daily fatigue after work to explore the possible causes.

Treatments

If your fatigue after work is the result of stress in the workplace, see what you can do to relieve that stress. Say "no" to added projects when you can't handle them and delegate work whenever possible. The All About Vision website suggests adjusting your work station so it's more conducive to work without stress or strain. FamilyEducation.com suggests timing your day more appropriately, so you take part in strenuous tasks when you're most alert, and you will feel more energized at the end of the day. Your doctor also can suggest prescription approaches to managing your fatigue if it is the result of a medical condition.