Burned Out? Here Are Some Signs That You Should Take A Break From Work For Your Mental Health?

The competition is so fierce nowadays that taking a break, even when you have not used all your leaves at work and want to, kind of feels illegal. Taking off days or taking a break is something that is generally looked down upon. It does kind of make you feel guilty to take a break knowing that you are physically well.

However, have you thought about taking a break when you feel your mental health is not doing well? Most of us are unaware when we are mentally saturated, when we have worked so hard that we are mentally exhausted. The obvious reason here is that mental health isn't quite as visible as our physical health.

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But haven't there been times when you just can't seem to work the way you used to? Well, this can be because you are overworking or doing the same thing without taking a break, and your brain wants you to take a breather. Even though the world has tremendously changed since the pandemic and working from home has become the norm, it does not mean it can't lead you to stress out.

This phenomenon is called burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and overwhelming stress. It can affect anyone, but it is most common among people who work in high-stress environments or have a lot of responsibility.

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Dr. Shambhavi Jaiman, consultant psychiatrist at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram, talked about the signs that may indicate that you need a break from work to preserve your mental peace:

You struggled to work professionally

You can see that your concentration is way less than it used to be. It is not just that; you can see that your productivity is lower and you are much slower at the work you used to do on time or before time. You can see yourself dragging through work, and nothing is making sense. Deadlines are getting harder to meet.

You are feeling overwhelmed

You are constantly feeling overwhelmed at work, where the things that you generally could do well or easily seem way too tough to continue with. You are constantly feeling too much pressure, and you are just not enjoying your job anymore. This is a good time to take a break.

There is no motivation

You don't generally feel like going to the office, and when you wake up every day and drag yourself there, it's a task you really don't enjoy doing anymore. You no longer participate in meetings or have any input to give when you are asked for it at work.

You are negative all the time

If you are constantly negative or irritated, and you believe that the majority of it is due to work or because of work, there may be a problem. A burnout can generally start with being irritated, and then it can turn into you snapping at people. This can also lead to emotional outbursts. If this occurs more frequently than usual, or when it does not, you may need to take a break.

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Your work starts to negatively impact your personal life

You are not able to concentrate at work, and you are low on productivity, which leads you to be unsatisfied with your professional life. If your work is causing conflicts in your personal relationships or is preventing you from engaging in activities that you enjoy, like hanging out with friends, enjoying your hobbies, or just relaxing the way you generally do, it may be time to take a break.

You are actually suffering physically

Do you keep getting a cold that is just not wearing off even after several medications? If you have constant headaches or stomach aches, especially when you think about or are at work, you may have a problem. There can also be a lot of problems sleeping when the thought of going to work or doing some project is dreadful.

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Taking a break is the ultimate solution for burnout. However, there are other ways one can take care of themselves when they are in this situation:

Practising self-care

When you feel you can't take things anymore, it's critical to take care of your physical and emotional well-being. You can do so by getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and finding ways to relax and destress.

Setting boundaries

When you are feeling overburdened with work or that you are carrying the majority of the load, you can politely request a break from your superior. Thinking that not setting your boundaries at work will make you a star performer can, in turn, worsen your mental health and lead you to have a lot of stress.

Get support from loved ones

Talking about your experiences with loved ones or a therapist can help relieve stress. They can also suggest ways to cope with the stress, which can ultimately help you work better.

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It's always better to look out for yourself.