ARE YOU BURNING OUT? | HERE ARE THE MAJOR SIGNS YOU NEED A MENTAL BREAK

Sometimes, you just want to shout, "pause!" at life, the way you can at a smart TV, but unfortunately and much to the disappointment of many, it doesn't work like that. Between work, business, family life and other responsibilities, it's so easy to start running on an empty tank without even realising it. But remember: you can't pour from an empty cup. Here are key signs you need to take a break from work/regular life, re-energise and get that spring back in your step:

You are constantly overwhelmed

Does the thought of doing the smallest household chores immediately put you in a bad mood, first thing in the morning? Or does sending that email to your boss suddenly seem like the biggest task in the world? It might be a sign you're overwhelmed and in need of some TLC.

You find yourself more emotional than usual

This could be due to a number of factors, but it's possible that you're under a lot of stress in your life, which is causing you to show more outward emotion than you normally would. However, of course, this doesn't mean that expressing your emotions is a bad thing. When done without causing harm to yourself or those around you, it's absolutely healthy and necessary.

You feel lost/unmotivated

Ever feel like you're just going through the motions of life? Get out of bed, traffic, work, lunch, Instagram, traffic, Instagram, sleep... and repeat the next day. Yeah, it happens to us all (well, most of us). It might be time to break the mould, request for a few days off, plan a small trip or spend some quiet time at home, and figure out what the next step for you could possibly be. It could really be time for a change, or just time for you to realise you're actually where you're supposed to be.

You are constantly ill

There's no bigger sign you need to take things easy than the one your body gives you. If you're constantly breaking down - from colds and flus, to malaria and fevers - you need to take a break ASAP. No, all those "random", back-to-back illnesses are not a coincidence, it's your immune system screaming at you.

You have no time for yourself

No doubt it's important to be there for the people around us, but not to our own detriment. If your tight schedule has you missing out on meals, ignoring important things like doctors appointments (to "save time") and having an almost non-existent work-life balance, you might need time to step back and reorder your priorities. No job is more important than your life and health.

You are tired, but you can't sleep

What's worse than getting into bed after a long day, eager for well-deserved rest and not being able to get any shut eye - for hours? (Not much else, I know.) This might be because you have anxiety about something, or perhaps you can't get thoughts about work/the kids/your future out of your mind. What better way to free up your mind and get you all rested up than some quality downtime?