Signs you are Overworked and in need of a Break
Many years ago, people wererequired to work long hours, all week with no vacation or personal days. Today we have contracted work hours and are entitled to vacation, sick and personal days. So, why do we still feel tired, stressed out and overwhelmed? Whether it is by choice (being a workaholic) or circumstance (having too much on your plate) you should – for physical, emotional and mental reasons – pay attention to signs that you are overworked and in need of a break.
Here are a few of the signs you should look for:
You wake up tired
If you stay up late finishing reports, correcting papers or doing household chores and you’re not getting at least 7 hours sleep every night you will eventually find yourself overly exhausted. During sleep, our bodies rejuvenate, regulate hormone levels and our brain rests and restores. A lack of sleep can cause depression, irritability and increases stress levels.
Get the sleep you need. When you feel rested and refreshed you are able to work faster and think clearer and all that backed up work can be done in a more efficient manner.
You make simple mistakes
Normally you’re a whiz at your job but recently simple mathematical errors are being made or you’re missing deadlines. This can be particularly serious if you work in an area where mistakes can cause physical harm like construction or engineering. If you’re a home-maker, you may forget to pack juice for the kids’ lunch boxes or pay a bill. Lack of concentration can be a sign of being overworked – you’re so tired from trying to do so much in one day that you can’t think clearly.
If you’re in the position to do it, delegate some responsibility to your subordinates. That way you have a more manageable amount of work and can spend more time getting it right. Moms should let the kids help out with chores like tidying up or washing dishes – while they wash up, you rest up!
You’re irritable
The kids are fighting again and while you’re usually the voice of reason, this time you erupt like a volcano. At the office, you view questions from your co-workers as interruptions and you’re beginning to snap at them, you get upset when more paperwork is placed on your desk and you’re unbearably impatient when the line at the supermarket is too long or you get a red light. High stress levels canbring on irritabilityand short- temperedness.
You can’t remember when you last had a good meal
If you don’t have time to take a proper lunch hour or race out of the house with just a gulp of coffee on your stomach – you’re in for a bad day. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to weight loss or gain, illness and loss of energy. Proper nutrition fuels the brain and body and a person not getting that nutrition is bound to crash eventually.
Your family life is affected
Your wife decides to bring you up to date with family events for the past month, you haven’t been to your son’s football games for a long time or you can’t remember when last you took your family out for pizza. If the cause of missing out on family events is continually having to working overtime, then you need a much deserved break.
Relaxing and enjoying time with your family gives you the opportunity to put aside the stresses of the day and relax, improves your mood and build pleasant memories - memories that you can reflect on when you need to unwind. You know what they say about the man who was nearing death...he didn’t ask for his bank book, he asked for his family.
Your health is declining
If you’re experiencing frequent headaches, your skin is breaking out or you’re susceptible to colds it may mean your body is reacting to your lack of rest, exercise and proper nutrition. As mentioned before, people need at least 7 hours' sleep to rejuvenate themselves and proper nutrition is important for good health. Without this your body cannot fight off bacteria and viruses that cause illness. Breakouts can also mean an increase in stress levels that can cause an imbalance in your hormone levels.
You’re consuming a greater amount of energy drinks or caffeine
If your special drink is no longer a mudslide but is now coffee or Red Bull...you’re trying to recover lost energy in the wrong way. Caffeine andenergy drinksmay give you a quick boost but when it wears off, you’re left feeling exhausted and irritable. Caffeine is not only habit-forming, it also interferes with your sleeping patterns causing you to lose vital sleep. Your body needs proper rest to build up your energy levels but not by the use of stimulants.
Loss of motivation
Completing a project well or getting good feedback on a job well done motivates us to work even harder but when your work comes back to you with corrections or you can’t get the time required to do a good job, your motivation wanes. Physical and mental tiredness also causes a lack of motivation as you feel unable to complete your tasks.
You feel depressed
When all seems lost or unmanageable it’s easy to fall into astate of depressionwhich all of the above signs can lead to. A person may feel powerless to change their situation and without any relaxing or enjoyable activities to improve their mood or outlook, this situation can worsen affecting family, friends and even the very job that you’re working so hard at.
Balance is important for a healthy, enjoyable life. While working hard is admirable, overwork brings no real rewards. Avoid the consequences of overwork by recognizing the signs and being proactive in reducing their effects.
