The Risks of Being Santa Claus

Part III: Fatigue

After such long hours of work, especially after Christmas eve, it is likely that Santa feels exhausted. As we discussed in the previous two articles of this segment, Santa does a thorough job all night during Christmas. Driving, lifting, carrying, and setting all kinds of presents from his workshop in the North Pole to under the tree of millions of families around the world is a lot of effort and what makes it worse is having to do it all in one night’s shift. 

As we saw, Santa’s job puts him at risk of getting muscular pain and even getting injured in the middle of a task. Many of these potential harms can even have a long-term effect or develop worse issues with time. A major consequence that can be derived from Santa’s job is fatigue.

Fatigue may occur after long hours of physical activity. However, in most cases, fatigue is not only physical. It also entails mental and social factors; it is a matter of general wellbeing. Some of the most common signs of fatigue include laziness, tiredness, dizziness, headaches, blurry vision, loss of appetite, lack of concentration, muscle soreness, or weakness among other physical and mental indicators. Our emotional and mental state can also be a good indicator of fatigue. We may experience irritability, lack of motivation, among others.

It is important to bear in mind that fatigue can be caused by different factors. Some are related to lifestyles such as lack of sleep or irregular sleeping schedules, unbalanced diet, dehydration, among other causes. In Santa’s case, the main factors we consider are his heavy workload and the long or irregular working shifts.

To avoid or to recover from fatigue, it is good to work on a sleeping schedule. In this regard, it is advised to have at least a seven-hour sleep period every night, ideally around the same time. Some sleeping conditions that may be useful to have a good quality sleep include:

• Having a regular meal schedule.
• Avoid having your last meal close to your bedtime.
• Try to eliminate as many as possible factors that can disrupt your sleep, such as noise or light.
• Finally, having a quality mattress and pillow can be highly beneficial too.

In terms of nutrition, it is essential having a balanced diet full of proteins and vitamins that will help us have enough energy throughout the day. You should avoid eating empty calories from junk food. Instead, try to get your daily calory intake from fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Another factor that has been proved to work wonders against fatigue is exercising. Having a weekly workout schedule can be efficient in reducing the main effects of fatigue notoriously. These tips can help you reduce some fatigue factors, but remember to check with your doctor if the symptoms become worse or chronic.

We hope our recommendations are useful to Santa and our readers. We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday celebration.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119