Knowing when to use my reasonable adjustments
Working out how to actually use my reasonable adjustments at work has been a learning curve. On paper, they make complete sense—things like reduced travel, flexible working, no meetings on certain days, and the option to mute communications. These adjustments are supposed to help me work in a way that suits my brain and prevents burnout. But knowing when to lean on them has taken a lot of trial and error.
The blurry lines of need
It’s a bit like deciding whether to call in sick—unless I’m physically incapable of working, there’s always a voice in my head saying, “Maybe I can just push through?”
Some situations are obvious. If I’m already overwhelmed, tearful, or on the verge of a shutdown, I know I need to step back. But ideally, I don’t want to get to that point in the first place. The trick is to catch the signs earlier—before I reach the stage where I have no choice but to crash.
Early warning signs
Over time, I’ve got better at noticing and communicating the early warning signs. If I find myself getting more emotional than usual (like feeling on the verge of tears over something minor) or struggling to switch off from work even after I’ve logged off, that’s usually a sign that I need to make an adjustment.
One recent moment of realisation for me was when I was invited to travel to a conference. At first, I told myself I should go—it would be good for my career, lots of other colleagues were going, and I didn’t want to seem difficult. But every time I thought about it, I felt my stomach drop. The idea of navigating the travel, the packed schedule, the socialising—it all made me feel so anxious I wanted to cry. Eventually, I had to be honest with myself: if just thinking about the trip was making me this emotional, actually going would be a disaster. So I declined, and the relief I felt immediately after made it clear I’d made the right choice.
Another time, I’d been having a string of days where I just couldn’t switch off from work in the evenings. My brain felt stuck in “work mode,” and I was getting more and more drained. Then, one afternoon, I found myself feeling completely overwhelmed—tired, emotional, and struggling to focus. I could have forced myself to power through the last couple of hours, but I knew that wouldn’t help. So instead, I left work early and went for a walk outside. The fresh air and change of scenery helped reset my brain, and I actually slept better that night. If I’d ignored those feelings and pushed on, I probably would have felt awful for the rest of the week.
Setting boundaries before burnout
It’s much better to step back early than to hit a crisis point and have to take a much longer recovery period.
When I start noticing those early warning signs, I adjust where I can. Maybe that means switching off notifications for a bit, rescheduling meetings, or taking a longer lunch break to decompress. Sometimes, it could even be putting an out-of-office message up for a few hours to stop the pressure of instant replies. Little tweaks like that help me reset before things spiral.
I used to worry a lot about what other people would think—whether they’d see me as unreliable or difficult. But honestly? I’ve realised that most people don’t even notice when I make these small changes. And more importantly, the alternative—pushing through until I crash—does not lead to good outcomes for me or my work.
Owning my needs
But I’ve spent enough time in burnout now to know that ignoring my needs just isn’t worth it.
The biggest shift has been moving from seeing adjustments as a last resort to seeing them as a normal part of how I work. They’re not just there for emergencies—they’re there to help me work well.
So now, when I notice those creeping signs of stress, I don’t push them down. I listen. I make the changes I need. This is me making sure I can keep doing the things I care about without burning out. And that’s not just okay—it’s necessary.
April 2025
