No matter how much you like your job, it’s not always going to be a picnic. It’s normal to experience some rough patches at work, and just because you’ve hit, one doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to quit your job and go live like a hermit. Sometimes, just a little bit of personal time off can do a world of good.
Here are five signs that it’s time for you to take a personal day.
You’re Making Mistakes
Engineers must be precise. Even the smallest miscalculation or miscommunication can have significant consequences. If you are typically a detail-oriented person and you find you have been making more mistakes than usual, it’s probably a sign you need to step away and recharge your batteries.
You’re Becoming The Office Grouch
Have little things started to annoy you like the sound of a coworker’s typing? Do you find yourself getting irritated by other people’s questions? Would you rather get a root canal than help a coworker who needs it? If you’re becoming irritable and grumpy, it’s a good sign you need a few days away from the office.
You Don’t Feel Motivated
If your daily tasks feel like an albatross around your neck and it’s taking longer and longer each day to get into gear, you’ve become disengaged with your work. There could be many reasons why you feel a lack of motivation, but a little bit of personal time can help you regroup and return to work with renewed focus.
You Are Bringing Stress Home
We all bring home a little bit of stress at the end of the day, but if you are irritable at home and it’s impacting your interactions with your partner, children, and friends, it’s probably time for a little bit of a break. Plan a long weekend with the people you love to not only unplug from work but to focus on your most important relationships.
You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Took Off
Perfect attendance is admirable but unsustainable. We are all human, and we all need a little bit of time off to relax, unwind, and de-stress. If it has been months (or longer) since you’ve used any of your time, schedule it now. Your employer offers PTO so that you will take it. Burnout is a genuine problem, and you’re not doing anyone – yourself, your family, your coworkers, or your bosses – any good by being a PTO martyr.
What If A Personal Day or Two Doesn’t Cut It?
Sometimes, one or two days off isn’t enough to stave off burnout or help you re-engage with work. If your job is causing you to feel burned out and a vacation isn’t enough to get you going again, it’s probably time to look for a new job.
If you are ready to re-energize your engineering career with a new job, partner with Selectek, browse our current openings or contact us today.
