How To Know When Youre Doing Too Much And How To Fix It

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I recently had a conversation with my sister before I got ready to take a vacation. During the conversation, I told my sister how I really didn’t want to take time off work for financial reasons.

Honestly, I am not on a salary, and I don’t get paid if I don’t work. I knew how it would impact my family if I took a long vacation, and uncomfortable taking a vacation.

My sister pretty much told me to calm down and get over myself. And that I needed to take a break because I was doing too much.

Signs that you are doing too much

At first, I was a little offended about her telling me that I was doing too much. But I quickly realized she was right. I really was doing too much.

There are a few signs that I started to picked up on to realize that I was doing too much and needed a break. And I want to share these signs with you so that you can quickly identify when it is time to pause and take a break.

Anxiety

The first sign that I noticed was anxiety.

Anxiety is excessive uneasiness or apprehension that can cause you to have feelings for impending doom, shortness of breath, or rapid heart rate.

I never had anxiety that caused my chest to feel tight before. All of a sudden, I started noticing anxiety more and more at work.

The problem with anxiety is that it can lead to other health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. [source]

Yes, feeling anxious and nervous is normal and can be helpful in certain situations. But prolonged anxiety or anxiety disorders are a definite sign for stress management.

Forgetfulness

Another sign was I noticed was forgetfulness. I’m usually pretty good about remembering things, but I forget everything when I’m doing too much.

When your mind is filled with so many things, it is easy to forget the very thing you walked into the kitchen to get 5 seconds ago.

So if you’re being very forgetful and might be a sign that you need to take a break because you’re doing too much.

Fatigue

The next sign is fatigue. You can get really tired from just overworking yourself. Not just physically, but mentally too.

My husband is a web developer, and when he is really overthinking things, he gets really tired by the middle of the day.

Even if you are not physically moving around all day, you can wear yourself out.

Loss of Appetite

If you’re noticing that you’re starting to eat less or just don’t have an appetite, that might be a sign that you might need to pause everything. Going periods without eating or not eating enough can lead to other issues you want to avoid.

If you are struggling with your appetite, try to drink high-calorie drinks like Ensure. This will help at least get you the basic nutrients you need for the day.

Definitely pause and take a break if you’re noticing that you’re losing your appetite.

Lack of Sleep

If you’re asleep is not the way that it usually is that it can be a very unhealthy sign that you’re doing too much.

If you’re getting inconsistent sleep, you’re waking up in the middle of the night or suffering from a case of insomnia; you definitely need to take heed to the signs and give yourself a break.

The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours. Next time, check to see how much sleep you are getting.

Lack of Focus

Now, I used to blame my squirrel brain on having a second child. And I honestly believe that once I had my second son, my brain was just not the same as before.

A lack of focus was a sign that I needed to take a break. If you notice that you are not able to focus like you usually do, it is definitely something that you don’t want to brush off.

Having a long to-do list or having many things that you have to get accomplished in a day makes it super easy for you to get overwhelmed and overworked.

Make sure that you are taking notice of how much you’re trying to get done at once so that you don’t lose focus or start having some of the other symptoms that I mentioned before.

I notice the signs, now what?

So I’ve given you some of the signs of when you are doing too much. And you’re probably wondering, “Okay, well, I’m noticing the signs. So what should I do?”

Good question.

Make plans

So first thing, definitely look at your schedule and start making plans.

If you have too many things that you have to get done in a day, definitely prioritize. Start with three things that you have to get done today and then move on from there.

Do something fun

Don’t forget to schedule some time to do something fun. It’s going out on a trip with your girlfriends or just having some quiet time to yourself.

You definitely want to make sure that you schedule some fun time just for you. And remember to do some self-care.

Give yourself permission

Permit yourself to take time off.

It really is okay. And the world will still go on if you take a break.

Because I felt like everything is so dependent on me, I struggled with permitting myself. But in the end, if I’m not at my best or able to do my best, I serve no good for anyone.

Get enough sleep and water.

Lastly, make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and that you are taking notice of how much sleep you’re getting.

You know the recommended time is about 7-9 hours of sleep.

Also, make sure that you’re getting enough water. If you’re not getting enough water, dehydration can definitely lead to you feeling fatigued and sluggish.

So Mama Bear, I’m telling you, take some time for yourself. And make sure you notice the signs of when you’re doing too much.

Burn out will lead you to become what I like to call Mommy Monster. Trust me; mommy monster isn’t good for anyone.

You know when you are doing too much. So, stop and take a break.

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