To seriously consider taking a sick day tomorrow due to burn out?

[Lizzie523]

I have been working from home since March and live alone.

For the most part I've done okay but now after 9 months I am struggling to keep going. I'm in Scotland in tier 4 lockdown here which is tough. I've managed to keep going but something has changed.

I moved to a new house last weekend and it was the most stressful period ever. Last weekend I allowed myself to sleep in both weekend days and still woke up tired. Last night I was lying in bed before 7pm feeling I'd been hit by a bus.

Today I got the flu vaccination and had a slight temperature tonight that has improved. Been in bed exhausted again for hours. Lying here tearing up at the thought of getting out of bed again tomorrow. I just want a day to rest. AIBU?

I am taking time off at Christmas but it seems so far away. All my energy seems to have disappeared, I feel like a zombie.

You're exhausted. Take a day off. It's just work. It doesn't matter

And it doesnt seem to be just me. My colleague told me how depressed she feels and how she is feeling worse every day. I feel and hear it every time I speak to my colleagues.

Cant believe I havent seen any of them for 9 months

Of course you are not being unreasonable. Take a day off. Tbh it sounds like you need the rest of the week off. You are exhausted because you need to rest. Take the time now before you make yourself really unwell.

Please take a day off OP. Sometimes people react to the flu jab anyway in that they can feel flu like symptoms for a few days. Regardless it’s justified anyway, burn out is a real thing. Take a few days to rest & recoup! You’ll feel tonnes better!

I did this a few weeks ago. Similar to you I have been alone since March (that in itself doesn’t bother me) but the lack of separation between home and work is what has drained my energy.

I got a cold that I just couldn’t shift and felt really lethargic so took a day and had a day of napping in between watching cheesy Christmas films on Netflix and it gave me the boost I needed

You definitely sound ill - take the day! Nothing is as important as your health.

Definitely have a day off, at least. Burn out is a real thing and you need to try to manage it. Look after yourself.

Oh and my work had a seminar on how to avoid burn out and guess what I missed it because I was too busy - right before I got ill. Ironic eh! I wish they would repeat the session as I would definitely make the time

Take the day off but only mention the reaction to the flu jab. You're so close to the end of the year, when hopefully you'll get a bit of a break. If you have tomorrow off this week is practically over.
WFH is crap and depressing, but it's not going to be forever.

I just had a proper cry. Only had two of those since lockdown began.

My workplace has just flung another project at us as well and it is just too much. They keep piling more on to the workload.

I work in a highly stressful job and I
do this probably once a year. I don’t see it as bunking off. I see it as preventing me getting completely burnt out and I’ll and needing to take more time off.

ill

Mental health is important.

Take a self care day OP.

Take tomorrow off and speak to your line manager when you're back. Try not to do what I did and ugly cry , but do ask what your priorities are. Start saying No to things - I've just started doing that and haven't received a negative reaction yet.

I am feeling exactly the same. I said to my leader on Mon I am done and need a break! Just got to get through tomorrow morning and I’m logging off 6 days! So you’re not alone - sometimes it all just becomes too much. Take some time

You are ill, take a day off!

And I am aware it is almost the end of the year and keep telling myself that, but physically I have slowed way down. I'm pretty young and fit usually but I am struggling.

I’d personally take the rest of the week off to get a proper rest.

We used to be able to take a day or 2 off about a week in advance but they have made a new rule that you must ask a month in advance now.

I am worried they might urge me to go for a covid test if I take time off. Which I dont want to do because I know I am just burned out.

Month in advance, fuck them, wankers. Take the rest of the week off sick.

I have had this very conversation with my DH tonight. How can I be so worn out working from home? I’m certainly squeezing more meetings in which is impacting on workload, because you only have to click a button whereas in real life you would have to prioritise where you could physically be.

Motivation is hard, the lack of real life social contact is hard, even online Xmas shopping is harder this year due to lack of stock, and we are going in to tier 3. I really need a duvet day.

People in the UK agonise over sick days far too much. Just take the day.

Take the day, you’ll feel rejuvenated. You only get a test in Scotland if you have symptoms so I’m sure they can’t ask you to take a test.

I hope you feel better xxx

Moving is probably the straw that has broken the camels back for you.

I reckon it must have been a doddle in the ‘old days’ (am thinking like 50 odd years ago) when people were at work in offices, I can’t believe they would have worked at the same speed people are expected to now, or had as many things on the go at once workwise.

I was thinking this about our local co-op, the staff are now expected to be stacking shelves, with a headset on so that they go to the til if called, whilst on the till serving they have to listen out for the self service having issues, whilst then being told the bread lorry is outside. Seems awful for what I imagine is. It the most amazing wage and this is only a small store.

Take the day off OP!

and so something lovely op! just dont bump in to a colleague if you decide to do some non-essential shopping