There is a reason that your body reacts in the way that it does, and it’s because it knows what’s best for it. You might ignore the signs because you’re currently very busy (aren’t we all, all the time?), or you need the money, or you’re enjoying what you’re doing…
But it can lead to a burn out.
Burn outs affect everyone, and in very different ways too. Whether you work the ‘9 to 5’, or you run your own business, or you’re a freelancer. If you’re working too hard then you can’t escape it.
I have been through it before because I work hard. I run my own business, so I don’t get much time off. I spend a lot of my time in my own little work bubble, focusing on that rather than taking time off. I’m trying to be better by taking naps and giving myself an afternoon here and there, but it doesn’t always work out like that. Travelling isn’t exactly a vacation for me either, because I work while I’m away. I do the normal things I do on a daily basis, plus I have meetings, and I try to do some sightseeing as well. I give myself time, but maybe not enough.
The trick is to always know the signs. It can start with a lack of concentration and a desire to sleep more, and it can end up with your body just not working. It can become creaky and stiff, it just won’t do things that it used to do. If that happens, don’t just keep on going. Take some time.
