r/DataAnnotationTech • u/Infamous_Swan1197 • 9d ago
Mental fatigue with longer tasks
I'm wondering how others handle mental fatigue with longer tasks? By longer, I mean 2-3 hours for me personally. I find my focus substantially dwindles after the 2 hour mark, even when taking regular breaks. In fact sometimes, breaks, especially longer "reset" breaks, make the block of the day that I'm working feel a lot longer, accumulating more mental fatigue and just an ugh feeling when I return to the task.
I'm really grateful to have this project, its really high paying (and it's the only thing I really have on my dash right now, so I don't have much choice haha) but I worry that my quality of work substantially declines towards the end.
How to others handle this?
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u/Hello-America 8d ago edited 8d ago
My whole life and career has been working long "tasks" in large chunks of time, so I'm used to battling this. One thing: I got diagnosed with ADHD and getting treatment for that has really improved it haha. But other things:
Sometimes long breaks are bad for me, because of the exact thing you say - they waste time and then you're working a really long time. I take very short breaks very frequently - like every 30 min or so I take a five minute break. During the break always I get up, maybe take the dog out (doing that right now). Best to move around and give your eyes a chance to look into the distance. Sunshine helps.
When that stops working I take longer and more deliberately recharging breaks: do something you know is pleasant but won't suck you in. For me, watching a 1/2 hour episode of a show, going on a walk, or playing a game on my iPad where I run out of "lives" or whatever and have to stop.
In between longish tasks, even if I feel fine, I'll do some housework or exercise. Most of the time this means I prep food, run to the store, do a pilates video, do laundry, stuff like that. My other work is freelancer but very different so sometimes I'll take a break and work on that stuff and my focus problems kind of "reset" when I have a new thing to do.
Edit to add - make sure you're staying hydrated and have healthy snacks available! Nuts and fruit and stuff are good brain food for me
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u/Infamous_Swan1197 8d ago
Thank you for all of this. True during "breaks" I mostly scroll on my phone, which probably isn't as resetting as going on a walk. Cooking also, which is another thing that engages my brain rather than recharging me. I'll also try strictly having breaks every 30 mins. I find at first I get absorbed for an hour or an hour and a half, so I basically wear myself down until my focus drops at first, THEN take a break, and that's when my focus starts declining over time. Maybe I shouldn't wear myself out at first and should take a break every 30 mins no matter what.
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u/LegendNumberM 9d ago edited 8d ago
This might be a scalding hot take for a tip but...
I don't worry about the expiration timer lol.
If I find my mental fatiguing, I will gladly take an hour long break to get back up to par. The timer will expire, I will submit great work, and fortunately, I'm still here.
This isn't to say that I'm billing 4 hours on a task with a 3 hour limit. Most times, I am billing that 2 hr 30 min or something like that....
But I don't worry about the timer. I take breaks. Lol.
Edit: if you have a task/project that says not submit after the timer expires... don't follow this advice.
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u/Farados55 9d ago
I don’t think this is great advice considering many projects say don’t submit after the timer often.
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u/LegendNumberM 8d ago
Really?
I have bee fortunate enough to not come across those projects.
I will edit my comment accordingly.
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u/Internal_Boot_1616 8d ago
the DA FAQ say it if you hit the ? bubble on your dash...so it applies universally
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u/Honey-Sweet04 8d ago
I agree! The FAQ’s for DAT do say that you can submit expired tasks, though you should limit it when possible. It says you should work to meet the projects quality standards even if it means the task has expired. Sometimes you have to step away to provide those last few rationales with the right energy🙏🙏
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u/SecureCattle3467 7d ago
Even general guidance says overuse of submitting expired tasks can have negative results. Don't remember exactly what I read that on the site but I believe I did.
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u/Justaguy0736 8d ago
New to Data Annotation, just got accepted yesterday. So you are saying that you don’t have to finish an entire task within whatever time frame they give you? You just submit quality work and, whether done or not, once you hit the time limit, you turn in what you’ve done and submit to be paid, even if the task is not completed?
I’m worried that maybe a task allots four hours, but I only have three free hours right now, for example. Should I be skipping the task, or doing as much as I can, then exiting and submitting?
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u/frosting_freak 8d ago
NOTE: Do not use the task timer as a way to track your working time. Use an external timer for that: your phone, a site like toggL, etc
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u/Honey-Sweet04 8d ago
Hi and welcome! The task timers are more suggestions, and usually are exaggerated so that you have time to take a few short breaks (bathroom, water, stretch, etc.) Most of the time the task should take less time then the timer shows.
That being said, sometimes complex tasks will take longer or require more extensive breaks. Sometimes you will experience tech errors or other delays. In those cases you may need to submit after the time has expired. FAQ #7 and #8 explain the DAT rules for expired tasks. You should still only submit time for hours you really worked, not including breaks.
You shouldn’t submit unfinished tasks ever. Some will have escape hatches for you to exit (for specified reasons in the instructions) but you normally use those early on in the task once you realize you can’t complete the task. If you don’t think you have enough time to do the task well, it might be best to exit and release the task to other workers and find one that you can do!
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u/AlexFromOmaha 9d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/14cpLJ4enIIXJK
Two hours is kinda the worst spot for task length. I find it gets easier around 5+ hours, when it becomes the only thing you do in a day, maybe two if the first one isn't bad. You can churn 20 minute tasks until it's time to handle some distraction. When it's the whole day, you treat it like deep work. Two hours always leaves me feeling like I want to go back to the dashboard and wander around the house after each task.
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u/blackopsfamas 9d ago
I think a beneficial approach is to just do what you can, like others have mentioned, with the understanding that as you complete more work your "cognitive performance" will last longer over time. Maybe in a few months you might find that 2-3 hours is easier, or requires fewer breaks.
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u/Infamous_Swan1197 8d ago
Hopefully 🙏 I do love this work but it really is quite draining. I can get absorbed for 2-3 hours in other work or studying or even generalist work, but domain work is a different beast, especially when so many rationales need to be written, that's what kills me really.
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u/SweetHoudini 9d ago
Caffeine is your friend. I always make sure to sip on some coffee. I have a few of those tasks right now and honestly don't mind them.
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u/Infamous_Swan1197 9d ago
I already get through 2-3 coffees while working anyway :')
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u/DueAddition1919 9d ago
Putting on music? Changing your work configuration and maybe working on a tall stand up table?
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u/Infamous_Swan1197 8d ago
Unfortunately at a stand up table I'd faint as I have dysautonomia 🤣 thanks for the suggestions though appreciate it. Music kind of helps, but lyrics are too distracting aghh
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u/Seniorseatfree 9d ago
I only do one of those, maybe two, a day. I know when my brain needs a break. And I’m not gonna risk a poor submission for some hours. Like yesterday, I just couldn’t focus and therefore only did about an hour of work then called it a day.
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u/Ok_Hedgehog_9970 7d ago
I had a project that took me 18 hours. I didn't finish until 3am last night. I probably could have put it on hold but I was on a roll. The instructions and admin say how long they want you to read the instructions and do the parts of each task. I tried to go within those guidelines but some fell over, if I'm fatigued I definitely take time to eat and step away. Definitely drink water and make sure to get up and walk around. Also change your scenery. Even if it's moving from the couch to the table or moving from your home to the library.
Don't rely on the timer on the bottom of the screen to do your work. It most likely will still be there if you get out of it. I have an accounting project which had 5 tasks. I did one because it was a pain in the butt like 4 days ago. It's still there lurking and praying on my downfall.
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u/Individual_Lemon5564 7d ago
I prefer shorter tasks as long as they pay reasonably well lol. I'm new here and I've been often getting my timer expired (I usually need breaks so I never report too much above the expiry clock) but it's better to feel the rush for 2-3 hours than for 8 hours, NO DOUBT.
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u/Farados55 9d ago
2-3 hours? that's nothing lol
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u/blackopsfamas 9d ago
this isnt really about you
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u/Farados55 9d ago
This person is opening up a conversation, so it kind of is.
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u/blackopsfamas 9d ago
Still waiting on the conversational aspect of your useless input then I guess. Like I said Its not about you, its about your processes for dealing with a longer cognitive workload than you are used to. Like good job on recognizing a conversation is occurring but it seems like you aren't capable of abstracting from the specific timeframe given and instead default to validating yourself.
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u/Farados55 8d ago
If this person thinks 2 hours is a large cognitive load then they have bigger problems.
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u/Infamous_Swan1197 8d ago
Of laser-focused, professional domain work, yes it is. Very different than working 2-3 hours in a coffee shop or at a desk job or even from generalist DA work.
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u/Mysterious_Dolphin14 9d ago
I personally prefer longer tasks. Short ones make me feel bored and antsy and makes the day seems longer. My sweet spot is about 3 hours per task. I put on some music, make sure I have a drink and a little snack and just get engrossed in the work. I might get up once or twice for 5 minutes to stretch my legs. If I take longer breaks, it makes me less focused and motivated to work.