6 Signs You Need a Vacation

Is work consuming your life 24/7? No time for leisure? Here are 6 warning signs you might be overdoing it.

If you identify with more than one of the following warning signs, it's likely work has taken over your life. Here are six warning signals and two pieces of advice.

Warning Signs

1. You have no time - When you're invited for a break or lunch, your constant reply is "I don't have time."

2. You eat at your computer - If you eat while typing and think "Who has time to eat?" or "Why take a break when I can eat with one hand and type with the other," it's a sign you're overworking.

3. You're anxious, worried, or depressed - Long working hours, stress, high demands, lack of personal investment time, and lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, depression, low mood, and motivation. If these symptoms worsen on Saturday night or Sunday mornings, it's another sign you're working too hard.

4. You feel overwhelmed by work - You're tired, fed up with work, but who will do the tasks if you're not there? And how can you take a break when you know what's waiting for you upon return? If just the thought of a day off gives you chills, it's another warning signal....

5. You're neglecting your body - You're not getting enough sleep, and even when you do, it doesn't affect the extreme fatigue. Your diet resembles a fast-food commercial, and the most intense exercise you get is the walk from the office to the car. However, the body also needs maintenance.

6. The thought of a holiday stresses you out - If the idea of a holiday or weekend scares you, it's likely the long working hours allow you to escape from other things.

Here are two pieces of advice that can improve the situation:

1. Work at a good but not frantic pace –It's important to remember you're running a marathon, not a sprint, and you need to maintain your strength over time. If your employers complain about the pace, keep repeating that you can't achieve more than that.

2. Consider a change of direction - If attempts to improve conditions have failed and it's taking a toll on you, it's time to assess whether you're willing to pay that price in the long run. If the answer is a definite "no," consider your options at work and beyond. Reducing job percent, seeking another job, or even changing careers could all be possible solutions.

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are many other ways to deal with work stress and its negative effects.

Sometimes it's difficult to see from the outside how to deal with the difficulties, and sometimes work pressure is part of a broader difficulty or creates additional problems such as anxiety or depression. If you can't cope with the challenge effectively on your own, or if it causes additional issues, consider seeking therapy to help you gain coping tools.