No one wants to be ill. However, you start your day early, you skip lunch, you stay late, and you don't take any breaks. The work will always be there, but when it comes to healing sick animals, delivering a newborn, or completing a grant application before the deadline, you know you have to get the work done — even if that means not taking a break. Everyone does it, but you should know that your health is at stake. Breaks are necessary in order to complete a task — and complete it well.

“After a break you come back refreshed and ready to do the work,” says Ulla Anneli, RN. “Take a walk. Do something to prevent stress buildup and mental fatigue. A break can just be a few minutes. You can sit at your desk and do short meditations, a visualization, or neck roll. Or get up and stretch. These brief breaks always provide immediate relief.

“It's also important to eat well,” Anneli adds. “Watch your diet. Have some herbal tea or water at your desk. Snacks can include fresh fruit, a yogurt, or nut mix with dried fruit. These are quick pick-me-ups. When we are overworked, we tend to grab the wrong things to eat. Cut out the fat and sugary foods.”

Many people don't want to take breaks because they fear they will break the routine and it will be harder to return to work. That's a common myth. If you are worried about taking too much time, set a timer for five or ten minutes. After a quick walk or stretch, you will be refreshed and better able to take on the work that is ahead of you.

Know that sometimes it is necessary to take time off. If you are sick, stay home. Your colleagues will appreciate your concern for their health as well. No one wants to work around a contagious, sneezing, coughing person. When you don't feel well, you won't be able to give 100 percent of yourself to the job. By pushing yourself, you will only extend your poor health. A day or two of rest goes a long way. When your body gets sick with a common cold or flu, it is telling you to slow down. Listen to it. After taking sick leave, you will return eager and better able to tackle the job.