AIBU to take a couple of sick days for exhaustion after a cold?

[glasslightly]

I work in a senior role, and am just finishing a really busy period. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, but I am behind on quite a lot of things (both work and day to day life management). We’ve also had some personal stress factors with kids and DH moving roles. Again that’s all starting to settle down. I normally find I thrive in that environment but am finding myself quite overwhelmed and unproductive.

At the same time I caught a cold 2-3 weeks ago and felt dreadful, I didn’t take any time off (but did cancel some non essential meetings and WFH). I am pretty much over the cold, but I feel absolutely exhausted - in a way which isn’t like me.

I’ll admit that I haven’t been taking great care of myself, put on a couple of KGs, eating late.

how do I get myself out of this hole ? The more tired I am the more I don’t catch up. Amy toying with taking a couple of days sick leave and just crashing, or seeing GP, but I feel guilty taking time off or sucking up GP time when it’s just tiredness.

any wise words ? I’ve never taken any material time off work in 30 years

I think you know the answer OP. Take the time off, and hope you haven't damaged yourself too much by refusing to rest when you're ill.

Listen to your body, take a few days to rest and catch up on sleep. Book in with GP and get your bloods done to make sure everything is ok.

Once you are rested everything is easier to deal with.

Dont feel guilt about taking the time off, you need it.

Take some annual leave, not sick leave. Make sure you do nothing at the weekends so that you can sleep and relax.

It's not your company's fault that you have stuff going on in your personal life. Then start looking for a new job. If you can't handle the pressure of this role then for your benefit, your family and the company you work for/your colleagues, it is better for you to move on.

You should have taken sick when you were sick rather than now.