For a long time, I didn't take breaks from just about anything. As a teenager, I was an academic over-achiever, played four different sports that had practices and games multiple times a week each, was an active participant and mentor in an engineering club, and somehow still found time to read at least one novel a week.

I used to think pushing through was the responsible thing to do. I couldn't let anyone down, couldn't let myself down for that matter, and the level of sheer guilt I got from taking a day off from anything was staggering. Even when I was feeling terribly unwell, I remember being near tears as I told my mother I wanted to stay home from my martial arts class, my brain full of how my classmates would be expecting me, my instructor would have to find time to catch me up another day, and my mother had already paid the fees.

None of them ever minded, but I convinced myself they would.

The truth is, you can't just refuse to take breaks with no consequences, your body just moves the cost somewhere else. My body doesn't care whether I "have time" for a break; If I don't take one, it takes one anyway, on much worse terms and usually with worse timing.

In my late teens, I was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis - colloquially known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As it turns out, if you push something enough, sometimes it just breaks entirely. This is what my body did. Now, no matter how much I rest, it doesn't get better – I'm permanently exhausted in ways that don't allow me to work a full-time job, and yet don't qualify me for government assistance because it's not widely recognised enough as a disability. This is a constant problem for a lot of sufferers from long-term illnesses all over the world.

When taken early, breaks cost almost nothing. Skip enough of them, and something bigger eventually steps in to collect the debt. It might be as small as a headache, a caffeine addiction, or burning out on a job or hobby – but it also could be a lot bigger than that. I was a teenager who figured they were invincible, and was taught the truth overnight, with permanent consequences. Does this happen to everyone who pushes themself too hard? No, of course not. But is it worth risking it, just so you don't have to call in sick for a day? Absolutely not.

These days I'm forced to pace myself, because I'm physically incapable of going too far - if I try, my body will shut me down immediately and be stuck in bed for days. I still get it wrong sometimes and push too far, still convince myself that maybe I can make things work. Every time, the body sends the bill anyway.

This is a much more depressing post than I usually like to make on here, but this topic is one that is incredibly important to me, because no one deserves to deal with the health issues I have to deal with. I'm a constant and loud advocate for slowing down, for listening to your body and doing what you need to do to stay healthy, even if it means occasionally letting someone (probably yourself) down.

For my sake and yours, please keep yourselves safe!