10 obvious signs you need a self-care day ASAP

We’ve all fallen into the habit of overworking ourselves to the point of exhaustion. Every time it has happened to me, there were always clear signals that I needed to take a step back. So, I thought I’d share those with you today. Here are 10 obvious signs that you need a self-care day ASAP. 

Withdrawing from the world

Socializing can be a very emotional draining task. In times of extreme stress, some of us withdraw from the world as a way of not having to deal with the pressures of entertaining friends and family. However, if 2020 has taught us any lessons, it’s that isolating ourselves can be disastrous for our mental health. 

When alone, you’ll find that sometimes your thoughts start to become your enemy. They lose all rationality, tend to be focused on the worst-case scenario. Once you’ve fallen down this path, you absolutely need a self-care day to recharge your batteries. 

Useful article:

Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and symptoms of depression and anxiety among older Americans

Increased irritability 

According to Healthline, there is a clear link between irritability and anxiety. Personally, this is usually the first sign that alerts me to an impending burnout.

My morning commute to work goes from a calm journey to hell-on-earth, where everyone somehow seems to be in my way. When I start noticing that these bursts of anger start to become more frequent, then I know I need to take a step back and reconnect with myself. 

Useful article:

Irritability: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis (healthline.com)

Emotional numbness 

Not being able to feel emotions is a terrifying experience. It happened to me for a while following a previous heartbreak. In the following weeks, whenever anything bad would happen to me, I simply didn’t care enough to show emotions.

It was sort of like my brain already expected the worst to happen in life, and so it was unphased by the negative experience. Through the use of scheduled self-care days, I was eventually able to reconnect with my emotions.

Useful article:

Why do I feel numb? | The Chelsea Psychology Clinic

Constant fatigue 

At some point in our lives, most of us will push ourselves to the limit to meet a deadline. At work. In school. Usually the consequence of this is that our sleep pattern becomes erratic due to the stress.

We end up with insomnia, because we’re too pre-occupied with the work that needs to be done. This then leads to us not getting enough sleep, causing us to be constantly tired throughout the day.

To break this cycle, we need to understand that sleeping well is an essential part of self-care. Once we start taking care of our body, it begins to take care of us.

Useful article:

Stress and sleep: What’s the link?

Difficulty concentrating 

Excessive worrying about a task can cause us to switch from one task to another endlessly throughout the day. When we start this cycle of going back and forth without getting traction on any task, then it’s time to reassess our well-being.

Useful article:

How anxiety can affect our attention and concentration at work and what to do about it

Trouble making decisions  

When times get difficult, we often have a lot on our mind. It feels like there are a million things that need to be done. And so our brain desperately tries to keep all those plates spinning at the same time. This leaves us in situations where we become overwhelmed and have trouble making decisions.

If this applies to you, then it’s time to scale back on your priorities in life. That means intentionally choosing to do less, but doing it better.

Useful article:

Essentialism: Do Less, But Do It Better

50 Inspirational Quotes About Priorities To Have A Focused Life

Constantly feeling guilty 

We all feel guilt from time to time. It’s an extremely normal emotion. However once you start feeling guilty over the smallest scenarios, then there is an issue. If the thought of cancelling plans with friends leaves you with a pit feeling in your stomach, then you might need to consider taking some time off to take care of yourself. Once you’re in a better place mentally, you and your friends will be able to have a much better socializing experience. 

Useful article:

Dealing With Guilt – Stress Management

You are your own worst critique. 

It’s all your fault. What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you do this? Negative self-talk after making a mistake is one of the biggest indications of declining mental health. Once this behavioural pattern becomes repetitive, it’s a sign that you need to check in with yourself.

Useful article:

50 Morning Affirmations To Start An Amazing Day

Lack of creativity 

Can’t seem to create any new ideas at work? Struggling to find the right words for a pitch? If this applies to you, then it’s one of the signs you need a self-care day. Stress has been found to greatly impact creativity, as it greatly affects our focus and memory. 

Useful article:

Employee Brain on Stress Can Quash Creativity And Competitive Edge

Health problems 

When you neglect self-care and allow stress to reign free over your life, your health starts to worsen over time. Chronic release of stress hormones has been shown to cause a multitude of health problems such as  

• Digestive issues 
• Heart disease 
• Obesity 
• Depression 

Useful article:
The Effects of Stress on Your Body

The next time you catch any of these signs, you need a self-care day as soon as possible to restore balance. Once you realize that self-care is necessary and not selfish, you’ll be one step closer to having a healthier lifestyle. 

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