Eight signs you need a holiday

Eight signs you need a holiday by Amber Rolfe Summer is finally here… Unfortunately, not all of us get to look forward to a break from work â€" whether it’s because of the fear of falling behind, or the struggle of getting holiday signed off during a busy time of year. However, allowing yourself time to recharge is absolutely essential for your wellbeing. Not to mention your productivity.To help you realise the importance of taking a break (and when you should take one), here are eight sure-fire signs you need a holiday:  You’re losing your temperA lack of holiday is often one of the main causes of ‘making mountains out of molehills’.For example, it could be that Tim from Accounts has taken your mug AGAIN, Stacey from Sales is using the printer when you need it, or your computer keeps doing that ‘error’ thing â€" and all you can do is react with irrational rage.If you keep making a big deal over problems that you’d usually be able to resolve without much stress, a break could be exactly wha t you need to start seeing things in a more positive light.Six signs you’re working too hardYou can’t sleepIf you’re having trouble getting to sleep at night or you’re waking up at all hours worrying about whether you did or didn’t send off that important report, it could be a sign of stress.Sure, working hard is good way to boost your career â€" but not if it comes at the expense of everything else. By creating an even work-life balance, both your professional and personal life will benefit.And, most importantly, you’ll actually get some sleep.How to achieve a work-life balanceYou’re making mistakes When you’re tired and in need of a holiday, little mistakes might seem more frequent.It might be that you clumsily leave typos in an email to your CEO, you make errors in customer transactions, or you’re always putting things where they don’t belong (see: teabags in the fridge).But try not to be too hard on yourself. Instead, see your mistakes as a sign that you need some downtime. Giving yourself regular breaks isn’t just great for your wellbeing, it’ll also help better your performance at work.You’re making unhealthy choicesTiredness, lethargy, and a lack of motivation can only mean one thing for your diet; and it probably involves cake. And maybe wine. And maybe 76 bars of chocolate…but who’s counting?The point is, whilst it’s easy to use bad habits as a coping mechanism when you’re in need of a break â€" it shouldn’t be seen as a long-term fix.So if you’ve started regularly skipping the gym, replacing salads with hob nobs, and overdoing it on the boozy brunches, take some time to revive your health with a few days off work.Trust us. Your body will thank you for it.Six tips to improve your workplace wellbeingTop 5 ways to keep fit at workYou’re neglecting your personal lifeDoes it often feel like all you do is work? It’s time to fix that.After all, there are only so many missed drinks with friends or cancelled family ou tings you can take before you â€" not to mention your family and friends â€" are likely to crack.Spending too much time and energy on your professional life, without allowing yourself any time off, is never likely to end well.So, if you’re at work so often you’re beginning to feel like you actually live there, it could be a sign to start searching for flights.Six things productive people do every dayYou’ve got ‘holiday envy’OK, so you’re super happy for your friends to be going away for the fourth time this year.But whilst you can appreciate a few (hundred) good beach photos, you still can’t help but wonder when it’ll be you who gets to brag about having cocktails at 2pm on a Tuesday.If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time for a break. So book a trip, pack your bags, and post all of the hashtags (you know, as soon as you’ve booked time off and agreed it with your manager).#sun #sea #sand #hotdogsorlegs.Out of office email templateYou’ve lost your sparkFindi ng the motivation to do a great job at work can be tricky if you can’t remember the last time you had a break. Especially if your role is particularly taxing.Common signs and symptoms include: always snoozing your alarm, sighing a lot, and frequently wondering if anyone would notice if you just didn’t go to work today.Hint: they probably would.No matter how much you love your job, it’s completely natural to have a drop in enthusiasm if it’s all you do/think/dream about. So give yourself some time to recharge, and you might be surprised at how motivated you are on your return.And if it doesn’t help? It might be time for a new job…Eight signs it’s time to resignStill searching for your perfect position? 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