The Negative Health Effects Of Not Taking A Break

We live in a fast-paced world with many responsibilities and societal expectations to fulfill. Many of us don’t feel that we have time to take a break. However not prioritizing time for relaxation can have detrimental effects on both our physical and mental health. This post delves more into the negative health effects of not taking a break - and what you can do to guarantee some downtime. 

The impact on your physical health

If your work and daily life involve a lot of physical labor, it’s important that you take time out to rest. Failing to do so can lead to fatigue and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). If you’re starting to experience aches that won’t go away or you’re constantly exhausted, it’s a sign you need a break. 

Of course, you don’t have to be doing anything physically active to become exhausted. Some jobs and responsibilities can be mentally strenuous and can cause a huge amount of stress. There are many ways in which chronic stress can damage our physical health including fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, weakened immune system, headaches, digestive issues, skin reactions, and a greater risk of strokes and heart disease. Giving ourselves a break from responsibilities is often key to relieving stress and preventing these health problems. 

The impact on your mental health

Not taking a break could also take a toll on your mental health. Chronic stress can often lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout. It may also encourage us to self-medicate with unhealthy substances, which we can become addicted to. A break from work and responsibilities is often necessary to stay sane. 

A lack of breaks can also negatively affect our productivity. Our cognitive function diminishes when we are constantly stressed or physically exhausted. This makes it harder to think clearly - and can lead to poor decision making and lack of creativity. 

How to take a break

It’s vital that you find time to take breaks. This includes scheduling multiple short breaks every day and long breaks lasting several days every few months. 

In order to effectively take a break there are a few important things that you need to do:

1) Physically get away from responsibilities

You’re not taking a break if you’re still at your desk. Plan to spend work breaks away from your workplace. It’s also important to spend lengthy time away from work and home in the form of vacations. When it comes to tackling mental issues like depression and addiction, long term mental health care options like rehabilitation could be key to getting away from temptations and triggers. 

2) Delegate other people to temporarily take over duties

You can’t just give up on kids, pets or a business. However, you can ask people to take over these responsibilities while you get a break. This allows you to spend more quality time with your partner and friends. It can also allow you to engage in hobbies - or to simply relax. Even if you just take enough of a break to have a coffee, it will work wonders for your mental health. If you don’t like coffee, you can find THC infused drinks online that are great alternatives.

3) Schedule breaks in advance

It’s important to schedule breaks in advance so that you more easily find people to take over duties and plan out what to do during your break. Don’t wait for a child to nap or for a quiet period of work to take an impromptu break - you won’t be able to enjoy this break.

4) Encourage others to take breaks too

You shouldn’t feel selfish for taking breaks just because other people aren’t taking breaks. If you and your partner both need a break, and you have kids, take turns in taking kids out for the day while the other parent gets to relax. Similarly, encourage colleagues to take their vacation and agree to take over their duties if they’ll do the same for you. 

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