As you’re reading these words at this very moment, how do you feel? Are you content? Can you say that you’re in a sunny disposition? Or, perhaps you feel on the edge? Do you feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? If you’re the latter then you’re likely overworked or have reached the point of burnout.
Before you go and file for that retirement using the Lockheed Martin retirement plan or start planning for when you’re going to drop out of college, however, maybe consider stepping away even just for a few days. If you’re feeling unsure about whether or not you’re in a good or bad mental space, here are some signs you may need a break.
You’re Getting into a Lot of Fights with Those Close to You
Ever notice how there are some days where you just can’t get along with anyone, even with those dear to you? Most of the time when we feel very hostile towards people, especially to the ones who genuinely feel concerned about us, it’s just a manifestation of our stress that we won’t acknowledge.
The first step to unpacking pent-up negative energy or stress is always to acknowledge that we aren’t okay and that’s perfectly fine. What’s not fine is unintentionally lashing out on people you love because you’re having issues.
The Glass Is Half Empty All the Time
This is probably something that you won’t notice right away but if you find yourself automatically seeing the bad side of everything then you might want to consider spending a day off to recoup. When we’re under a lot of stress, we often become pessimists. This is because we’re only focused on everything that’s going wrong in our lives, which is understandable. But, if we allow ourselves to be pessimists for so long we might forget what it means to be grateful for what we have.
Pessimism is a sneaky sign of the decline of our mental health because it’s usually the norm in society today to be angsty and cynical. However, if negativity becomes the guiding compass of our decisions and lives then it’s time to slow things down a bit.
Work-Life Balance Becomes A Thing of the Past
They say when you’re looking for a career it’s best if you do what you love, and love what you do. However, one of the more subtle signs of nearing the burned-out stage is making your job or your studies the very core of your existence. If you catch yourself just working, and working, and working, and working, completely neglecting your life outside of your work, then it’s time to take a breather.
It’s a good thing if you enjoy what you’re doing may it be at school or in the workplace. But, when it’s the only thing you’re capable of doing lately then it’s a definite sign that you need to pay more attention to your mental health.
You’re in Auto-Pilot
Let’s face it: it’s easy to get caught up in the repetitive motions of life especially when you work at a job that you’ve already gotten used to. It may not be alarming for anyone if they notice that they are just going through the motions of their day to day life, in fact, many might see that as a good thing.
But, if you think about it, it may be a sign that you need to be in a new environment doing anything other than sitting at your desk typing away all day. Going on auto-pilot means that there’s nothing new or remotely exciting about your life so you just tune out and do things the same way you’ve been doing them for n years. If you’d like to turn off auto-pilot for a little while then doing things as simple as watching your favorite show or treating yourself to your favorite food will help.
Our mental health is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. Although it’s not a good thing to have let our mental wellness slip our minds, it’s never too late to treat yourself. Our careers or our studies are one of the most central aspects of our lives but we must never forget to give ourselves a well-deserved break.
