“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you- Anne Lamott”
It’s the start of the week and you are already feeling burned out, low on energy, tired and unmotivated. Well, it is because you need a break. Now before you jump into any conclusion and consider this article another, “live, love, laugh’’ scam, hear me out. I understand you love your work, your day job (or maybe not), your entrepreneurial venture or in fact even new parenthood but sometimes it can be extremely exhausting and you don’t even realize. I am sure you must be getting your week-offs or vacations but are they enough? Do you need a “real break”? When should you take a break? Are there any signs?
To be honest, there are definitely signs that say “You need a break” and we are going to discuss them in-depth.
Taking a break generally means doing something out of your general routine. Taking off from your work/school and doing some recreational. This is not just necessary to stay motivated but also if you want to perform at par. While everyone will shove only “hustle, grind, never say no” down your throat, it is important for you to realize when you feel burned out. A healthy body is mostly a result of a healthy mind and just like your body, you mind too needs adequate rest and recreation period. So, when do you draw a line?
Always jittery, you need a break
You shout at your kid for petty things, feel irritated, start to muffle around with any random stranger over small things, these are some signs that you’re having trouble. You need to unwind and take a break.
Taking frequent and well-planned breaks will help you stay happy and healthy. This is one sign, you shouldn’t ignore at any cost. Sometimes, when we are irritated and sleep-deprived due to work commitments or any other aspect, we end up picking fights for very small reasons and this is a dangerous situation. Once you take a break, you will notice that you’re not having unusual outbreaks, you’ll feel happier and fulfilled.
Always Low on energy
Every once in a while, there is a day, we feel low on energy and every small task seem difficult. Which is completely alright, there can be many reasons for it. But when it becomes persistent, it’s time you must take a break.
Feeling low on energy is most certainly a result of physical and mental exertion. Stop, notice and think. Are you putting way too much effort into something? Is something draining you out? In any case, this is your wake up call. You should take a day off and relax.
Not liking things you usually enjoy
Ravi used to love talking and reading about bodybuilding, but lately he doesn’t enjoy it as much as he used to. Has he lost interest in bodybuilding, well maybe but there are greater chances of him being tired of his daily routine.
When our brain is tired because of the daily hustle, we don’t enjoy the things we love. They seem like any usual boring, mundane tasks. If you ever feel something like this, chances are you need a break or maybe need to find something else you enjoy. In both instances, you need a break. Time to call in sick.
Unusual body pains and irregular sleep
Have you noticed an unusual pain in some body parts recently? Are you not experiencing a sound and proper sleep? You definitely need a break. Working way beyond our physical and mental limits is good, it helps us learn and function ourselves but when this starts to take a toll on your health.
You must pause and start again later. Stress releases a hormone called cortisol, excess cortisol in the body can lead to fatigue, high blood pressure and irregular sleep. If you experience any of these symptoms, before taking any medicine, try taking a break.
You worry a lot
Jim is always worried over small things. He loses control, gets anxious and start to worry. This is because Jim is spending way too many hours in the office. He is perpetually tired, worried and anxious. We all worry for one thing or the other, this is inevitable but when we are too tired we start to worry even more.
So, next time when someone tells you, you worry a lot, maybe it’s time to take a break.
Life is too short to be working and hustling all the time. While, grind is important to achieve bigger things in life, sometimes all you need to do is take a break, relax and start again. You will achieve better results and would never feel frustrated or sad. Also, you don’t really need to spend a ton of cash or do something extraordinarily fancy in your break. Small overlooked tasks can make you feel refreshed and ready for the next day. If you would like a follow up article on best ways to take better breaks, tell us in the comments and we’d love to do it.
Until next time, stay happy and stay manly!
