You’re Daydreaming About Getting Away
Do you find that you spend more time “away” from your desk than you do actually working? While its perfectly normal to daydream about a vacation from time to time, it can be a sign of a problem if you start picturing your coworkers in grass skirts and you have the sound of steel drums stuck in your head.
You Make Frequent Slip-Ups
One of the early signs that you’re over-working yourself is that you keep having little slip-ups. Maybe you are forgetting details and information that you normally wouldn’t, or if you’re like me you start mispronouncing words like CRAZY. Little mistakes happen to all of us, but if you notice that you continue to forget small details, or if easy sentences start becoming master-level tongue twisters, then it’s time to start taking action before things get worse and these little slip-ups start affecting your work.
You Feel Tired, Even After Time Off
If you spend a beautiful, sunny weekend sleeping in bed, you need to seriously re-evaluate your priorities, and chances are you’re fast approaching a breakdown. Stress from over-working can cause fatigue that doesn’t go away, even with sleep. In fact, sleeping too much to try to combat fatigue can actually leave you feeling even more tired. If your work day is spent trying to keep your eyes open at your desk, its time to make some changes.
You Feel Sick All The Time
Stress can manifest itself in many ways, but one of the most common ways it rears its ugly head is by making us feel sick. Headaches, upset stomach, nausea… chances are, if it can be treated with Tylenol and Pepto-Bismol, it can be a symptom of being over worked and stressed out.
Your Sarcasm Is Through The Roof
Sarcasm is rarely appreciated in the workplace, let alone anywhere else. When we’re feeling stressed and over stimulated with too much work, we often feel agitated and are more likely to lash out as a coping mechanism. This rarely means someone starts throwing punches in the office, but they will usually be more sarcastic or verbally aggressive. If you find yourself being a little too snarky, or saying things like “oh gooood for you” when your coworker is describing their vacation, you’re probably overworked.
You’re Doubting Your Abilities
Second guessing yourself and doubting you’ve done a good job can be normal part of every job, but if you begin EVERY day worrying about if you’re capable of doing your daily tasks, its time to consider taking some time to decompress. Doubt is a healthy part of the creative process and can help ensure you check your projects for accuracy, but too much can stress you more than necessary and hurt your performance.
How to Start Feeling Better
- Splurge on yourself! Book a spa day or a night out with friends, anything that will help you de-stress and get your mind of work.
- Slim down your to-do list.
- Express any concerns you have with your boss.
- Restructure your work goals.
- Stop daydreaming about a vacation and actually take one! ( I HIGHLY recommend Alaska during the summer months)
–Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing Assistant