Do you find yourself in the middle of work daydreaming of jetting away to your next holiday destination? 

Or do you find yourself wishing that you could step away from it all just for a little while so that you can breathe again?

Yet the one thing that’s stopping you is the one thing you really need a break from – work. But there’s just too much to do for you to take a break now.

Recently though, you’ve noticed that you’re a lot more tired than usual and this fatigue has affected your ability to concentrate.

This may be your body telling you that it’s time to pause and rest.

Today we’ll explore some signs that you deserve that break and ways you can alleviate the stressors in your life. 

1) You don’t remember the last time you had a break.

When was the last time you had a proper rest? When was the last time you even had a good night’s sleep?

If you can’t remember then it’s a pretty good sign that it’s time to take a break from it all.

While it’s good to remain productive, it’s equally important to let your mind and body rest.

Overworking yourself can result in reduced productivity levels, and you may find that you’re unable to concentrate as well on whatever you’re doing.

Whether it’s work, or taking care of your family and keeping up with the endless responsibilities that life throws at you, all of us deserve time for ourselves.

We may feel that we don’t deserve to rest because we simply can’t, as things may start falling apart once we do so.

Yet the reality is that if we don’t rest, our bodies will force us to. 

And this can manifest in a mental breakdown, sicknes or worse, a long-term debilitating disease.

Prioritizing your well-being should be the most important thing. 

2) You’re always exhausted even after waking up.

Do you find that you’re more exhausted after waking up no matter how long you’ve slept? This could indicate that your quality of sleep is poor.

How well you sleep can be determined by several factors, such as how physically or mentally demanding your job is, your ability to ‘switch off’ after work, or how relaxed your mental state is just before you close your eyes.

If you’re about to sleep but your brain is still in a flurry of activity, it’s unlikely that you will be able to get a good night’s rest because of the elevated activity.

You may find yourself stressing over issues at work and being unable to let the worries of the day go even as you get ready for bed.

A study showed that people with poor sleep quality were likely to have higher levels of emotional exhaustion and burnout. You may think that sleep is the answer to resolving exhaustion but it also depends on the quality of rest that you get.

Moreover, if you find that you’re unable to get a good night’s rest for a prolonged period, this can negatively impact your quality of life in the long run, as it will result in even worse burnout symptoms and exhaustion.

3) You forget things easily.

Another sign that you’re due for a well-deserved break is forgetfulness. Do you find yourself forgetting the simplest of things, like names, and dates – basic information that should be at your fingertips?

While you may try to brush these aside under the justification that ‘you’re just tired’, it is actually a sign of something more.

A study illustrated the impact of burnout on brain function and revealed that increased levels of fatigue can cause memory loss. Too much stress will not only wear you out, it can cause your brain to shrink. 

Not only will your short-term memory be impaired, but your ability to remember things from way back will also be affected as your mental fatigue increases.

As having a good memory contributes to better productivity levels, you find that you’re unable to produce good quality work or perform as well as before, due to an impaired memory.

Therefore, if you’ve realized that you’ve been forgetting things a little too easily, it could be a sign that you’re due for a well-deserved break.

4) You cry easily.

Crying is normal, as it’s an outlet for most of us to vent our pent-up stress, hurt, and negative emotions.

However, if you find yourself breaking down at the slightest inconvenience, this may be a good indicator that you’re overly stressed out.

Every small thing can send you over the edge because you’re nearly at breaking point.

Sometimes, you may even break out in tears randomly, as you’re so emotionally spent.

You may realize that the more stressed you get, the less you’re able to regulate your emotions, which can affect everyday life.

Imagine showing up to work and receiving a not so pleasant email from your colleague or boss. Now usually you’re able to brush this aside because you know that it’s not personal, but just a comment on your work.

However, this time, you find yourself unable to hold back tears and feeling as if the world is crashing down all around you. 

If you’re able to relate to this or have experienced something similar, it’s a good sign that you should take a break. 

Taking time to rest

If you continue to let this cycle of exhaustion persist, this will likely have negative impacts on your relationship, career, and even your health. You may find yourself withdrawing from your loved ones, notice that you’re a lot weaker or that you fall sick more easily, or that you keep making mistakes at work.

Therefore, it’s good to embark on self-care to ensure that your brain is able to get a well-deserved rest: 

This could be taking a day or two off work (no matter how busy you are) to recharge. Go take a walk, spend time with your loved ones, or take yourself out on a solo date. Mentally shut off from the demands of work and avoid checking your emails on your break.

Or, take a holiday if you’re able to afford a longer break to take your mind off responsibilities for a while. Meet new people, try out new experiences, and of course, eat great food.

You’ll be surprised at how rejuvenating these can be.

Remember that there’s never going to be a ‘good time’ to take a break, as responsibilities and work will always be there and pile up. 

What matters is how you treat yourself.

Concluding thoughts

Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand your frame of mind to decide if you should go for a break or not.

If you agree that you do exhibit some or most of these signs, you may be suffering from mental exhaustion or burnout.

In this case, try getting some rest as long as your body needs it, or speak to a therapist.

Remember that if you do not rest, your body will do it for you. And by then, it may be too late.