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.

Oh come off it it is perfectly possible to have 'natural breaks' at home, chat to colleagues on the phone or even have a breather outside. Don't overegg it.

I would have said exactly the same before I was in this situation. I do have breaks at home, I do chat to colleagues over the phone and I do go outside. I also worked a mix of home and office before lock down.

This feels different, it can affect people in ways which may seem illogical to you, but that doesn't mean it's not happening.

I took a day off just over 2 weeks ago. It was a very stressful time and I realised on the Friday that my heart hadn't stopped pounding since I woke up and I was worried I'd fall into a spate of panic attacks after years being free of them. I took the day off and watched stupid TV on the couch with a blanket and lots of tea, and it made a big difference.

I took the day off. I woke up at 8am feeling extreme fatigue and only just woke up recently after 1pm in the afternoon!

I also had another cry. My gran is in the late stages of alzheimers & I've been worried about the possibility of not seeing her again (but not actively thinking about it & pushing it to the back of my mind to get on with each day). I think I may be experiencing illness and a build up of stress.

Thankfully I had scheduled my work days in advance this week so not much pressure for my colleague.

I feel the same. I haven't had a day off all year other than weekends and public holidays. I am working harder from home than I ever did in the office and my house is a tip despite the fact I am there all the time.

@Bagamoyo1

Who has to cover your work if you take a sickie? Is that person exhausted too? These would be my thoughts.

Nowadays it is often the case there is nobody to cover it. Businesses are built around the idea that nobody will ever be off sick.

Glad to hear you’ve taken the day, OP. I’d encourage you to take the rest of the week too so you can fully recharge. It’s not like you are work shy or do this at all often, based on what you’ve said.

Plus I agree with you - WFH is shit. The downsides outweigh the upsides by far.

I wish I could take the rest of the week @Youngatheart00 - I know I need it and today is just going to give me a slight boost to see out the rest of the week. There is a new project I am in charge of and am needed for so feel I need to go back.

At Christmas I will be off for 11 days. I'm going to try and keep that in mind as i struggle through. I'm on the couch now drinking tea & reading a magazine. Can't remember last time I did this. Will try some very gentle yoga later as well.

I think work and home blending together like this has been hard on a lot of us.

I'm a bit worried about the temperature thing. Usually I teeter around 36-36.4 degrees. I've been taking my temperature more often and it stayd about that number

My temperature is now 37 degrees. I believe this is still normal but it is higher than normal for me. Not sure if that is significant or not.

Lie in bed, watch trash and eat nice food.

It sounds like quite a strong reaction to the flu vaccine. However if you genuinely need the rest of the week off - and physically it sounds like you do - it might be worth booking a covid test to be on the safe side - and explain to your work you're a bit worried about your physical symptoms including high temperature.

I read somewhere that we are not working at home, we are living at work.

It really feels like it a lot of the time.

I almost relieved we are staying at home this Christmas because it means the time is completely mine to have a real rest, turn off my brain and have time for me and hubby.

Lots of long walks and crappy tv for 8 days is going to be bliss.

Yes I'll miss all our families but I've found a silver lining.

Definitely take a day off. Sick days are not just for physical illness, sometimes you need a break mentally too!

Back at work today and feel horrendous. About to spend my lunch hour sleeping.

I cant believe I am feeling this way after a flu jab! I feel floored. No covid symptoms.

When you say no covid symptoms, you do realise fatigue and fever are two to watch out for? Take tomorrow off!

Did you not get a test? Temp and fatigue! Booking a test is the simplest part of all this madness!!!!!!