#DrewsViews: Five Signs You Should Take a Break
by Andrew Adams
Mental health should always come first, but since the spring semester is really starting to pick up, more and more I’m seeing my friends get burned out. I think it’s often overlooked in activism circles and social justice group discussions, but overburdening yourself and becoming overwhelmed and burned out is a real problem for young people today. While it can be easy to forget about your own wellbeing while focusing on issues you care about, or just living your life, burn out can catch up with you at any time if you aren’t careful. Here are my top 5 signs that might indicate that you are nearing burn out and need to take a break.
1. Passion running out
You should feel passionate about whatever you are working on, especially in activism. If your passion or motivation has run out, you might want to take a step back and rest so that you can rekindle your passion and come back reenergized!
2. Fatigue, both mental and physical
If you feel constantly exhausted, even after a good night’s rest, to a point where you want to slack on your responsibilities, you might want to take a break!
3. Irritability
If you find yourself snapping at the people around you, raising your voice more often than usual, or getting easily overwhelmed and frustrated, you might want to take a day off.
4. Dread
This goes along with the others but I think it is distinct enough to warrant it’s own number. If you find yourself dreading completing whatever task you need to complete, more than you normally procrastinate, you might want to take a break. Similarly, if you don’t want to go to bed for fear of waking up to your responsibilities, or dread waking up at all, then you probably should check in with yourself and see what you need different.
5. People telling you to take a break
You might think this one is self explanatory, but I can’t tell you the number of people in my workplace and friend circles who we all know are overloading themselves, but they refuse to admit it. If your friends are worried about you, asking if you are okay, or expressing concerns for your wellbeing, you might need to take a break more than you realize. Put your trust in your friends and listen to them.
I hope these tips help you recognize when you might be nearing burnout and might need a break soon. There is a considerable stigma around mental health and taking breaks but I promise you that breaks are crucial for a healthy mental state and a successful movement. Please take care of yourself and have a wonderful day!
About the Author:
Andrew Adams is a transgender college freshman at the University of Central Florida who is committed to LGBTQ advocacy at the local and national levels. Nationally, Andrew serves as a youth ambassador and advocacy volunteer for The Trevor Project, a youth social media ambassador for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a Volunteer and Intern Coordinator for Point of Pride. On the legislative side, Andrew lobbies for the Equality Act by visiting with his Congressional representatives and their staff.
Additionally, Andrew has spent years fighting to change his school district’s bathroom policy to be trans-inclusive, and the fight is still ongoing. Andrew is an International Baccalaureate student and a volunteer at the Mayo Clinic, and he hopes to go to medical school and become an adolescent psychiatrist specializing in transgender health. For fun, he practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creates sculpture art and plays the piano.
