Life is so go, go, go now. For many people, it can feel almost impossible to take a day off, especially for fear of the amount of work and chores that may be left on the other side. But, what is the other option? Eternal burnout?
As much as you'd like to just brush it under the table and keep going, there is only a set amount of time your body and mind can keep pushing through before they need a break. So, how do you remedy this? Well, aside from the obvious 'taking a mental health day' you also need to take the time to understand when your mental health may be heading downhill in the first place.
Doing so can help you be proactive, rather than reactive, to truly take care of your mind body and spirit. Some of the tell-tale signs include:
Difficulty Concentrating
Are you constantly pinging between tasks, losing focus and not being able to keep up with what's going on? The chances are you're on a decline and need a day to treat yourself.
When we burn out, our minds can go into a sort of 'default mode,' which means they can almost have a brain of their own. You want to go left, but they'll go right. You want to finish your tasks, but you're stuck watching cat videos. Oh, and how about forgetting EVERYTHING? Rather than blaming yourself for these, take the time to relax. Have a bath, sip on a Nutritional Matcha Latte and get into the zen.
Feeling Negative Toward Work
No, we don't necessarily mean dreading the commute or the early wake-up. We mean feeling negative towards your work (whether it be office work, housework or socialising with others). If people are grinding your gears for no reason or you're getting frustrated as your inbox fills up, it's a likely sign that your stress has gone beyond the normal limits. How do you remedy this? Well, a day off is important for starters. But, we know that's not something you can always demand instantly, especially if you have deadlines to meet.
So, in the meantime, be sure to get plenty of honey into your diet. Here's a fun fact, our Nutritional and Adaptogenic Honey targets the endocannabinoid system and can help you calm down, even on those days that you are dreading.
Remember, though, while it is a short-term remedy, it is not a long-term solution for reinforced mental health.
Feeling Guilty
Whether you've had a smaller day than normal or something has gone wrong, feeling super guilty about even the littlest things is often a sign that your mind can't take it anymore. This is especially true if you have recently been reprimanded for something. And while guilt is normal, not getting in control of it can have long-term impacts on how you perform. It may even cause you to make further mistakes as your mind may be shut off from reality, and your attention-to-detail sensors may not be functioning as they should.
On days like this, remember to take a few extra moments to yourself. Eat a nourishing breakfast, such as a Superfood Breakfast Bowl, as a full and nourished stomach can help regulate emotions. Don't forget to also take occasional breaks, so you can regulate those guilty emotions before they take control of you.
Change in appetite
Now, if you've lost your appetite all of a sudden, it's not always a sign of stress. However, if you're feeling like you're under a lot of pressure or that you're under the pump, chances are that changes in your appetite could be linked to it. As hard as it sounds, now, more than ever, you need to eat and fuel your body with nutrients to grow and flourish. Set aside time every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner at a minimum. However, add some snacks into there where possible to fuel your body with goodness. You don't need to spend hours cooking a meal either. When you're feeling like this, we know that's the last thing you want to do. That's when it's a great time to reach into your pantry and pull out our Healthy Instant Noodles - Hoodles.
Remember to breath
Life goes on and time keeps moving. Let it be that way. Though it may seem like you need to keep up and push through every moment, your mental health should always be a priority. So, if you need that day off. Take it.
And when you need support feeling your best self, the team at Jomeis Fine Foods is always here for you.
