What are the Top Signs You Need a Break From Your Job

What are the Top Signs You Need a Break From Your Job Some days you dont know if you’re coming or going. You forget what your co-worker just said and whats due when. The throbbing headaches are beginning to feel like a drill. It seems like being a hard worker these days is all about working yourself into an early grave. So, how can you tell when enough is enough? Here are 18 signs you need a break from work.   1. Youre about to set your computer on fire, literally. In fact, youre picturing it, right now: You may or may not have snuck a blow torch into work. Dont start computer fires. Take a break. 2. Youve turned into the Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz.” You can barely move and are in pain. The same position and repetitive motions strained your muscles so much that they feel calcified at this point.Soon, you wont be able to move at all, and theres no oil can to save you. The good news: A Swedish massage is a good substitute to loosen you up. You may also consider a standing desk or walking breaks to get your body moving. If your body and brain don’t get enough exercise, youre no good to anyone. 3. Youre getting repetitive headaches, or another health issue keeps occurring. Your body is literally telling you to stop. Stress influences disease in the body and can promote inflammation and the progression of health issues. See your doctor, but remember that your overall health matters, too. Make time for personal time to keep yourself well. 4. Your resting heart rate is rising. Normally, your heart rate will be pretty consistent within a range of a few beats per minute. Check your rate every morning before you get out of bed. (I use my Fitbit, but there are plenty of other ways.) If you notice your heart rate rising, it’s because you’re stressed and your system is trying to get more oxygen to your brain and body. Take a break and get a little more rest to give your body what it needs. 5. Youve become a zombie. Well, youre not eating brains, but your head isnt in the game. At this point, your responses to co-workers, family and friends are grunts and awkwardly pointing at things. Youre going through the motions, but life just doesnt have much appeal. Its the same old thing, day in and day out. Its time to change your routine. 6. Friends? What friends? Its OK if your social life sometimes consists of watching episodes of “Friends” instead of actually hanging out with your friends. But if you have no social life, thats a completely different issue. Humans need to socialize outside of their work environment; socialization is just as important to optimal health as diet and exercise. Do you really want your tombstone to read: “Bob: He worked. He worked a lot?” No, you dont. Now, go grab a drink with your friends. 7. When you finally find time for your hobbies, you get nothing done. Perhaps you like to bake, paint or write poetry, but when you get to it nothing at all happens. There is no passion. There is no motivation or interest.So, what’s going on? Your body, your mind and your heart are tired. Get overwhelmed in one area of your life, and it will leak over into the rest of your life if you dont handle the situation. 8. Youre eating dinner at the office, consistently. Recall staring at your computer and quickly glancing up at the clock to notice that dinner time was two hours ago? So, you order Chinese food to be delivered to the office. No big deal, right? Think again. Working more than 40 hours a week, with unhealthy eating habits, has been shown to adversely affect your health. If you have to work late, at least leave the office to sit down and eat a meal. You should have at least 30 stress-free minutes to yourself. And if this is a regular pattern for you, your work-life balance needs to be reconsidered. 9. You hit snooze more than once. If the first thing you do in the morning is fall back asleep again, somethings got to give. If you dread going into work, are rushed and end up late, you need a change. Take a break to consider your options. 10. You’re tossing and turning every night. If you have horrible sleeping patterns, even after trying to adjust to a new work schedule, something else is going on here. Youre overworked, and your body has had enough. 11. You â€" or your co-workers â€" are noticing attitude changes. Have you been grumpy for months? If your co-workers are walking on eggshells around you, take a break. The same goes if youve been slowly withdrawing from social interaction at work. Likewise, if you’re experiencing a sudden change in attitude for no specific reason, it’s likely the stress and fatigue have triggered physiological responses that alter the chemicals in your brain that regulate emotions. 12. You talk about work outside of work. A lot. Everyone has a right to a good rant. If you subject your family and friends to a daily, long-winded rant, just stop. Stop for them, yes, but especially stop for yourself. Look at whats not working for you, and make the change. 13. You sigh, or change the subject, when someone asks you, “Hows work?” You hate talking about your job because you hate your job. Its boring. It’s frustrating. Its a sign that you need a break. 14. You no longer feel proud of your work. You deserve to be recognized. You deserve to feel proud of your position. Have you been doing this for so long that its all the same to you? Its break time. 15. Your work area is trashed. Or suspiciously clean. Take note if your work area has altered from your usual way of doing things. Both messy and clean work spaces have merits, scientifically speaking. Our work areas often symbolize the spaces in our minds and how we sort information. But if you don’t have time to tidy up, or if you’ve gone from messy to OCD, it’s a sign you need to step away from the desk. 16. Your brains foggy, with a small chance of “screw this.” Not only have you lost your motivation, youve lost your thoughts. Its hard to think, period. Co-workers words go in one ear and out the other. You dont know if youre coming or going. You just know that youre about done with all of this. Feeling like this is a serious sign that you need a break. 17. You forget to eat lunch. If you’re so busy that you don’t notice your stomach rumbling, or you keep working despite the hunger, your brain isn’t getting the fuel it needs to keep going. Neither is your body. Force yourself to get up and take a lunch break. Even fifteen minutes can give you the boost you need to get through the afternoon. 18. Your weight is fluctuating. Stress takes a major toll on your body, we all know that. But we often fail to notice the signs. If your weight is fluctuating more than one percent day-to-day, or if you’ve lost or gained weight a considerable amount of weight without trying, it’s a sign you need to pay more attention to your intake. Whether you’re stressed and not eating or drinking enough, or you’re over-eating due to stress, it’s time to get it in-check before it takes a significant toll on your body. Please dont work yourself into an early grave. Notice when you need to take a break, especially from everything, and do it. Have you noticed any of these signs in yourself or a co-worker? What are your suggestions for taking a much needed break? Leave a note in the comments! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Join over 625 readers! 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Great Resume Writing Examples - Why You Need Them

Great Resume Writing Examples - Why You Need ThemGreat resume writing examples are readily available on the Internet and you can simply use these in order to better your chances of getting an interview. These websites often give you access to much more information than you would get at a traditional resume writing studio, such as sample cover letters, sample resumes, sample job ads, and many other helpful tools.The number one thing that you need to take away from the Internet is the ability to create your own resume. This can actually be a very simple process. You can simply find samples of resumes that are created by other people. You may find samples of actual resumes that have been sent out.The Internet also gives you access to resumes that people have created for other reasons. Some people have created these for fun or for profit.Many sites will also give you tips on how to improve your resume. You can also download a resume template from them. These will help you put together a resume that looks great and is personalized to you.Another resource that is very helpful when it comes to resume writing is the job board sites. The job boards are usually run by the job search sites and they are just as valuable as they are for other people.It is a good idea to look around and see if there are any postings that fit your qualifications. You can make a resume that includes the position you are seeking and a description of the skills you are looking for. If you cannot find anything, you may want to submit it anyway.In many cases, you can use the resume examples that are found online. The ones that are found on the Internet are the best because they provide you with lots of examples and they allow you to write your own resume.

The Office Christmas Party Holiday Survival Party Tips

The Office Christmas Party Holiday Survival Party Tips It’s the most wonderful time of the yearâ€"but it might not feel like it if you’re dreading your office holiday party. The end-of-the-year shindig is rife with potential missteps, from forgetting names of key people to overindulging at the punch bowl. Luckily, it’s possible to have some fun and stay professional at the same timeâ€"and even transform the party into a useful networking event. Here are a some essential tips to get you through the evening: Check with HR before you bring a guest If your party is being held at a restaurant or other venue that charges per head, your company may not be fronting the cost for a plus-one. Before you invite your spouse or children along, be sure to check with your boss or human resources that it’s OK to bring a guest along to the festivities, says Alexandra Levit, a careers consultant and the author of Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can’t Afford to Believe. Do some research before the party If there are senior executives you don’t normally interact with or employees coming in from out of town for the party, do a little poking around on your company website to brush up on names and titles. Be neutral during introductions in case you’ve already met the person before (and don’t remember); you don’t want anyone to feel slighted. And be gracious to your boss’ spouse if he or she is in attendance; word of your behavior will likely go straight back to your supervisor. Come prepared with conversation pieces The night is bound to be filled with socializing with people you may not know very well, or at all. If you’re naturally shy, come to the party armed with a few neutral conversation pieces, like asking about someone’s role at the company or what their holiday plans are. Try to branch out from your close office buddies and also chat with people at the company that you don’t normally interact with around the office. The party could also be a great opportunity to network with your boss and other senior members of the company. However, be sure to keep your conversation light and don’t monopolize their time. It’s great to tell them about a project you’re working on, but it’s definitely not the moment to ask for a raise or a promotion. Pay attention to when you arrive (and when you leave) You don’t want to be the first person at the holiday party, especially if it’s held immediately after work. Try to arrive 20 or 30 minutes after the official start time, when the party is already in full swing. “Sprinting out of the office so you can be the first one at the event might send several negative messages, including that you aren’t that busy at work, or that you can’t wait to get to the booze,” Levit said. Similarly, make sure you take your leave at an appropriate hour, before only straglers remain. Since nearly all holiday party scandals occur as the event is winding to a close, or in the after hours, your professional reputation will thank you for taking your leave in a timely manner. Set a limit on drinks You don’t want to be the person everyone is talking about at work on Monday morning. Be sure to set a reasonable limit for yourself on alcoholic beverages at the party, if you choose to drink at all. Try to eat a light dinner before you attend, not only so you’re not drinking on an empty stomach, but also so you’re not rushing to the buffet table and overloading your plate as soon as you arrive. Be gracious during the toasts If you’re a top performer at your company, you may be honored in a toast the party. If so, graciously acknowledge the honor, but don’t drink to yourselfâ€"and be sure to thank the person who recognized you. In general, make sure you’re staying engaged during the toasts; don’t make any side comments to your coworkers while the company president is speaking. “Someone is bound to notice this, and you won’t look good,” Levit advises. Follow up after Try to find the organizers of the party before you leave and thank them for putting on an enjoyable event. It also doesn’t hurt to follow up in a thank-you email. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it will also make you stand out from the many employees who likely won’t thank the people who worked hard to make the party possible.