Self-Care Red Flags: 10 Signs You Need To Relax

In this day and age of hyper-productivity, the dangers of fatigue and burnout become all too real. When you’re so used to pushing yourself everyday, how do you know when it’s time to pause and recharge? Self-care is something we all need, and these are some of the red flags that tell you it’s time to take a break.

1. Changes in your eating habits

According to this article from Cleveland Clinic, there is a definite connection between stress and appetite. If you’ve been eating more or less than usual, take a second to think about why. Is it because you’re feeling anxious or tired?

Our bodies release the stress hormone cortisol whenever we’re stressed. That can cause us to eat more because our brains think we need more fuel to fight whatever it is causing our distress. Or, we can be so focused on our work that we ignore any hunger cues. Either way, this can be detrimental to our health in the long run. Self-care can be as simple as making sure to eat your meals on time and in the recommended portions.

2. Loss of interest or motivation

If you realize you’ve lost interest in activities you used to enjoy, do a self-check. Are you overworking yourself? Have you denied yourself time to relax? Are you constantly feeling anxious? Answering these questions might open your eyes to the cause of your lack of motivation. Whatever it may be, this symptom is one of the self-care red flags and you might want to take a breather.

3. Self-care red flags: Guilt

Do you feel guilty whenever you’re not doing something that society views as “productive”? Does watching a movie unrelated to work or school make you feel so bad afterwards? If you said yes (even if a little hesitantly), don’t worry, I can totally relate! Most societies reward “productive” activities and frown upon hobbies that don’t result in something tangible, such as watching TV shows or playing video games. This could be the reason why we’re always struggling to keep up with this “productivity cult”, sometimes compromising our health in the process.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should just lie in bed all day in the name of “self-care”, because that’s just as bad. But feeling guilty about relaxing probably means we should reassess our perspective. Giving ourselves the permission to take a nap, read a book, or just to breathe, shouldn’t be hard. In fact, we shouldn’t have to ask permission in the first place.

4. Problems with memory or attention

Suddenly having trouble remembering or keeping your focus on one thing is one of the self-care red flags you have to look out for. This can be an effect of too much stress, anxiety, or lack of sleep. Some R&R may be all you need to get back on track, but if it’s more serious, check with your doctor to make sure everything’s all right.

5. Conflict in relationships

When stress levels rise, our relationships with the people around us tend to suffer. This can be due to not spending enough quality time with or taking out frustrations on our family and friends. When we’re so preoccupied with what’s stressing us, we might take our loved ones for granted.

If you feel like arguments are getting more frequent, think on how you’ve been for the past few weeks. A step to patching things up might be to take some time off for yourself and fill your cup. Then, you can approach stressful situations from a place of calm and rationality rather than stress and exhaustion.

6. Self-care red flags: Physical changes

Too much stress doesn’t just affect us mentally and emotionally, but also physically. This can be something like getting pimples or sweating excessively. But if you experience any serious symptoms, such as sudden weight gain or loss, skipping periods for women, too much falling hair, or anything unusual, then it might be best to check with your doctor. Read this article to learn more about the different ways stress affects our body.

7. Changes in sleeping patterns

Having trouble falling asleep lately? Or have you been waking up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason? Unless you live with a ghost (JK, of course), this is definitely one of the self-care red flags.

Try to look back and see when these symptoms started. It might be due to a new project at work that’s causing you more stress, or a problem at home that’s keeping you awake. Either way, make sure you relax yourself and try to de-stress.

8. Irritability

One of the more common signs of stress, irritability is something that can lead to a lot of negative effects in the long run. It can put a strain on your health and relationships. So when you notice yourself snapping at people for the smallest things, it’s time to step back and try to get some me-time in.

To help you out, I made a free self-care calendar for the month of June. Make sure you’re getting your daily dose of TLC with this freebie.

9. Self-care red flags: Self-isolating

No, this isn’t due to COVID-19. If you’re withdrawing from company beyond your normal habits, then this might be due to feeling overwhelmed with work, problems, or stress in general. Because we don’t want anything to add to our load any further, we might, unconsciously, start to disconnect.

Reflect on any changes in your socializing patterns and what the causes may be. A little relaxation might help you feel more comfortable hanging out with others again.

10. Drinking or smoking more

If drinking or smoking starts becoming more and more of a need, pause and regulate yourself. Are you doing this to relax or ease some of the tension you’re feeling? Find other ways of de-stressing before it spirals out of control and into addiction. There are healthier ways to self-soothe.

I wrote a 4-part series on relaxation to share some ways to relax in all aspects. Check it out below.

Don’t wait to have these self-care red flags…

We all need to work and be productive, of course. However, don’t forget to spend time on yourself. If you think you need more help and are experiencing these self-care red flags, check in with an expert. It may not seem like a big deal, but not giving yourself enough rest can make stress levels rise unchecked.

Whenever you feel like you don’t have any time to spare, remind yourself that you can’t pour out of an empty cup. Before you run yourself dry, give yourself a little TLC. You know you deserve it!

For easy-to-follow, sure-fire tips on relaxing, read my relax series here.

If you liked this, you might like:
It’s Time To Learn The Art of Pausing
Steps To Take For Better Work-Life Balance
6 Mind Vacations You Can Take Right Now