Experiencing stress and feeling overwhelmed are common aspects of dealing with the challenges of adulthood, but if you can’t calm your nervous system down, it’s a sign your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break.

The World Health Organization defines burnout as “A syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” The WHO characterizes burnout according to three dimensions: Feelings of energy depletion and exhaustion, a sense of mental distance from your job, and reduced professional efficacy.

Burnout can occur over time, which means it isn’t always easy to determine the physical and psychological symptoms. It’s important to pay attention to the messages your body sends you so you can take care of yourself properly.

Here are 8 signs your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break

1. You have chronic fatigue

Burnout was defined by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974 as “becoming exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength, or resources” at work. Included in the symptoms of burnout that he described were exhaustion and fatigue, often accompanied by insomnia.

While getting a good night’s sleep can be elusive for many people, especially as they age, the exhaustion that comes with being burnt out isn’t alleviated by rest, alone. If you’re experiencing chronic fatigue, it’s a clear sign that your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break.

Feeling exhausted even after a full night of sleep indicates that your body is stretched beyond its capacity. Taking time away from the acute stressors of your workplace can help reset your nervous system and allow you to get the rest you need.

2. You suffer from gastrointestinal issues

Another sign your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break is experiencing consistent gastrointestinal issues. Stomach pain, digestive problems, and changes in appetite are all indications of exhaustion.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research determined the prevalence of various somatic symptoms of burnout. The study assessed 687 Swedish participants with extreme burnout and found that gastrointestinal symptoms were particularly common. The specific symptoms included but weren’t limited to stomach pain, nausea, and indigestion. The researchers noted that the risk of burnout increases 1.52 times with each additional symptom.

If you’ve noticed that you have consistent gastrointestinal distress that isn’t alleviated by treatment, it could be a significant sign your body is warning you that it’s time to rest.

3. You have mental fog

Having brain fog is a sign that your body is sending you a warning that it’s time to take a break. Psychology Today defines brain fog as “A type of cognitive dysfunction characterized by poor memory, difficulty focusing, confusion, and mental fatigue.”

Experiencing mental fog is common during times of heightened stress. Chronic stress keeps your nervous system stuck in high alert, leaving you in a state of flight, fight, or freeze. It can be difficult to complete even simple tasks because your brain is in survival mode, which can lead you to feeling overwhelmed by your day-to-day life.

Having brain fog isn’t only a sign of being professionally burnt out, it can also show up in your personal life in a way that affects your family. It’s a common indication that you’re parenting from the trenches of burnout, which usually means you need extra support.

4. You feel emotionally numb

Feeling disconnected from your own emotions or from the people around you is a sign of burnout, and a way that your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break. Feeling distant and having negative feelings about your job are also symptoms of being burnt out.

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2021 Work and Well-being Survey, 26% of people surveyed reported a lack of interest, motivation, and energy at their jobs; 32% of people said they were emotionally exhausted.

The APA noted that certain professions are more prone to burnout than others, especially healthcare workers and teachers. These positions are community-oriented roles. Healthcare workers’ daily tasks operate on very high stakes.

Teachers are responsible not only for educating children, but for providing emotional support as well. Educators in the U.S. are often paid below their worth, which can contribute to the emotional disconnection and sense of overall burnout that teachers feel.

5. You experience increased irritability

In his original articles defining burnout, Dr. Freudenberger noted that the experience of being burnt out isn’t solely limited to physical symptoms. Feeling burnt out can manifest in emotional ways that affect people’s interpersonal relationships, both in the workplace and outside of it.

Dr. Freudenberger explained that the behavioral signs of burnout include increased frustration and anger. Feeling triggered by small things that wouldn’t normally bother you is a distinct sign that your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break. Experiencing increased irritability can make it especially difficult to stay calm in high-pressure environments, which can influence the way you relate to people around you.

If you notice that your emotions are heightened and you feel annoyed in situations that don’t warrant such intense irritation, your body is telling you that it’s time to step back and give yourself time to recuperate. 

6. You’re always worried

If you find yourself in a state of constant worry or nervousness without a distinct reason, it could be a sign that your level of agitation is in overdrive, making it hard to calm down.

Anxiety can bring with it a slew of physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a lowered immune system, which can lead to illness. Experiencing acute and prolonged anxiety is usually an indication that your body is sending you a message that your way of living isn’t working anymore.

Feeling anxious all the time is a warning sign that it’s time to take a break and reset your nervous system.

7. You have frequent headaches and muscle pain

Another sign your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break is if you experience recurring headaches and overall muscle pain.

Headaches are an indication that you’re holding extra stress and tension in your body. They’re a clear warning that you need to decompress, which most likely means lowering your level of stress by lowering your level of professional responsibilities.

According to a 2016 article published in the journal World Psychiatry, experiencing musculoskeletal pain is also associated with being burnt out. You might have back pain, shoulder pain, or neck pain, which are all signs that you’re physically wound up, without the ability to fully relax.

Your body often translates emotional issues into physical pain, which is why being in chronic discomfort is a sign that you need to let yourself off the hook and take a break in order to heal.

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8. You have poor self-care

Burnout is often accompanied by depression, which can deeply affect your ability to care for yourself at the most basic level. If you find that your self-care has plummeted, it’s a sign your body needs a break.

Poor self-care can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including not eating well-balanced meals due to stress, or a change in appetite. If you find that you struggle with basic tasks, like brushing your teeth or showering, it could mean that your self-care habits are suffering because you’re so burnt out.

True self-care isn’t about surface-level beauty, it’s about making sure your physical needs are met by getting sleep, nourishing your body, and maintaining your hygiene. Having poor self-care is often a sign that you feel disconnected from yourself, so you stop caring about what you need.

Pay close attention to how you show up for yourself. If you notice things are starting to slip out of your control, it’s a sign your body is warning you that it’s time to take a break and reset yourself, so you can live as your best version of yourself.

Parliament is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the body of Dr Mustapha Ahmed, a former National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, is brought to Ghana.

That would ensure a befitting burial service for him in accordance with Islamic rites, Mr Yussif Jajah Issaka, NDC MP for Ayawaso North, said on Thursday.

Dr Ahmed travelled to India to seek medical attention due to a backache but died after a surgery was performed on him.

He was reported dead on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. He was 63.

Mr Issaka said Parliament was going to be involved in giving the late MP a well-deserved burial as a remarkable individual who made an indelible impact on Ghana’s political and economic landscape.

He said this on Thursday when Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, a Second Deputy Minority Whip, led a delegation of the Minority Caucus to confirm the death of the former MP on behalf of Speaker Alban Bagbin  and to sympathise with the family.

Dr Ahmed was the Ayawaso East MP from 2001 to 2013 until he was later moved to Ayawaso North after it was carved out of his previous constituency.

Apart from being actively involved in politics, the late MP was a retired military officer, a dentist and an estate developer.

He was the Minister of Youth and Sports in the former President John Dramani Mahama’s Administration.

Dr Alhassan described his death as shocking, saying: “We don’t have a choice but to respect what the Almighty Allah wants.”

He said the family was also liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the body to be flown in on Friday, February 9, or Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, MP for Ada, described the deceased as a highly respected figure who made significant contributions to both the political and societal spheres of Ghana.

“We mourn with the family,” she said.

He was survived by a wife and three children.

The police have exhumed the remains of a 60-year-old retiree from the Ghana Highway Authority allegedly killed by her son, Gideon Asomani.

Mercy Oforiwa’s remains were exhumed from an unfinished building in Kyekyewere, a suburb of Nyamekrom in the Eastern Region, according to the police.

The suspect was arrested for iron rod theft but later confessed to the murder in his statement.

The deceased had been reported missing on June 17, 2023.

Accompanied by the suspect and other family members, the police visited the alleged crime scene to verify the burial site.

The exhumation took place on Wednesday, December 13.

The decomposed body has been taken to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua for autopsy and further preservation.

According to the suspect, he claimed to have accidentally pushed his mother during a heated argument over GH¢500, causing her head to hit the wall and resulting in her death.

We all have heard happily married people say, “You’ll know immediately when you’ve found the right one to be with.”

Common wisdom suggests that it’s almost instinctual as if your body just knows you’ll be okay with that individual. It’s a romantic thing that we’ve all encountered or hope to encounter one day.

Believe it or not, the opposite concept is very true, too. Studies have shown that our bodies will often signal that we need to stay away from someone sooner than our hearts or minds will. How do you find your soulmate? These signs tell you he’s definitely not.

Make no mistake about it, if you notice yourself reacting in the following ways, these are all signs he’s not the one and that your own body is trying to tell you to leave someone be.

Here are 10 ways your body tells you he’s not the one for you:

1. You feel tense around them, even when they’re kind to you

A common thing that happens when someone isn’t right for you is a pervasive feeling of tension, even when no reason has been given to be worried or stressed near that person. If you find yourself constantly on edge around them, they’re not the one for you.

2. His body language seems “off,” even though you can’t really figure out why

Maybe it’s the fact that his eye contact seems empty to you, or that his smile doesn’t seem fully genuine. Perhaps it’s that his body language is aggressive, but doesn’t match what he’s saying.

Our subconscious tends to pick up on tiny details about a person’s body language and facial expressions that we consciously cannot. Once again, if you’re getting the vibe his body language isn’t right, you’re better off listening to it.

3. At times, it almost feels like he’s hiding a secret that you won’t like

That’s the best way to explain what that vibe feels like. Simply put, a person who’s honest with you will not give off the vibe that there’s some sort of secret dealing that will hurt you later on.

4. The way he smells doesn’t please you

No, I’m not talking about his switch from Armani to Versace Cologne. I’m talking about his natural scent.

This sounds really, really weird, but believe it or not, science backs it up. We tend to be happiest with mates that have pheromones that jive with our own. These partnerships tend to produce stronger children and also tend to be more long-lasting. If you feel like his smell “changed,” that’s your body’s way of saying you’re over him.

5. You can’t explain it, but even if you’re happy with them, you don’t feel like everything is alright

There are a lot of people who have perfect-on-paper relationships but run away without a second thought. Why? Because, though it was allegedly perfect, they felt something wasn’t right.

6. For a reason you don’t understand, you can’t take your eyes off him — but not in a good way

This habit may or may not come with a feeling of fear. This is often a sign that you’re subconsciously picking up on a predator, much like the way deer tend to stare at hunters in the forest.

7. When you first met him, you felt physically repulsed by him but kept feeling like you had to “be nice” regardless

More often than not, your gut instinct is what keeps you alive and safe. Many, many people out there claim to have avoided certain dangers by listening to their initial feelings about a person and running the other way, even when others claimed that the guy was “alright.”

If your guts are telling you to run, don’t bother sticking around just to be “nice” to someone — RUN! It’s better to be a jerk than a statistic.

8. Even when you interact with him in a positive way, you’re left with a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach

If you’ve ever been around a sociopath, chances are that you know that weird, borderline-queasy vibe you get around someone who’s bad for you. It’s an unmistakable feeling that often comes with feelings of dread, self-doubt, or general unease.

That feeling in the pit of your stomach is your body’s way of saying, “Don’t trust this guy!” So, listen to it.

9. For the life of you, you can’t be sexually attracted to him

Sexual attraction is a thing that can tell you if you would be compatible in at least one way. No sexual compatibility means that it won’t work out long-term, and while other signs he’s not the one on this list may be more pressing, a lack of attraction definitely does mean that a lasting romantic relationship with him isn’t in the cards.

10. The idea that you will be with that person for the rest of your life makes your blood run cold or makes you feel slightly sick

Yeah, that’s your body’s way of telling you “HECK NO!” If that’s the reaction you’re getting when you think of being with him forever, you are not meant to be.

A man kept the mummified corpse of his mother in a basement for over a year while continuing to receive her pension payments, Austrian police say.

The 89-year-old woman, who reportedly had dementia, is thought to have died of natural causes in June last year.

Her son, 66, is said to have put her body in his cellar and used ice packs and bandages to mask the smell.

Police believe he may have illegally received about €50,000 (£42,000) in payments.

The suspected fraud only came to light after a new postman delivering the woman’s benefits in the western Tyrol region was refused a request to see her, police said in a statement.

That sparked an investigation, and led to the subsequent grisly discovery.

Police told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF that the suspect had also covered his mother with cat litter.

“Ultimately, the corpse was mummified,” officer Helmuth Gufler said, adding that the man had confessed.

Mr Gufler said the man had no other income, and had told them that the payments would have stopped immediately if he had reported the death, leaving him unable to afford to pay for his mother’s funeral or to keep the house they had shared.

The suspect also said he had told his brother that their mother was receiving care at a hospital, and that it was not worth visiting as her condition meant it was unlikely she would recognise him, ORF reported.