Are you feeling drained? Are you disengaged? Are you stressed?
These might be signs you need self care.
Self-care is becoming more important in the modern age, but it can be difficult to find time for it. It’s important to take time for self-care not just because you deserve it, but because it is really good for you!
Doing self-care often includes getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and taking care of your mental health. All of these things are hard to do on their own when you have a busy schedule. That’s why some people find that doing them together helps get them out of the cycle of guilt or frustration after skipping one or two.
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1) Uncontrolled Stress
Stress is widely misunderstood. On one hand, stress is vital to our survival as humans. It’s responsible for increased alertness, decisiveness, and action. However, if stress is not handled properly, it can adversely affect your body, mind, and more.
So what exactly is uncontrolled stress?
The way we individually handle stress is what causes uncontrolled stress.
And every individual has their own coping mechanisms. Knowing your own stress management style helps you create a self-care routine that challenges and alleviates this stress.
Here are some of the signs that may indicate you have uncontrolled stress.
- Anger outbursts
- Crying spells
- Numbing (alcohol, drugs, etc)
- Overeating
- Poor sleep
- Depression
- Pain and muscle soreness.
2) Your time is controlled by others.
One of the most common complaints about growing up is not having any time for yourself.
Between work obligations, family, and more putting some time on the calendar for you is often a pipe dream. But, if you aren’t caring for your needs consistently, everyone around you suffers, including you.
By taking time to heal and recharge will enable you to care more deeply for your loved ones as well. And they will notice this change in you.
It might seem counterintuitive, but taking time to practice the different types of self-care for your needs is incredibly UNSELFISH.
Understand that when you care for your needs and you feel great about who you are, that positive energy rubs off on your loved ones as well. Although hard work is important, be careful not to confuse overwork with hard work.
Remember, everything turns back on when you unplug for a little bit. Even you.
3) You’re your worst enemy.
When you think about it, the person we talk most with is ourselves. The most alarming part is that most of this talk is negative. In our minds, we tell ourselves we are not good enough, that we are not talented, or that our happiness isn’t deserved.
The negative talk we engage in is deeply rooted in past mistakes and future worries. And if we aren’t careful, we become our worst enemy.
Try talking to yourself like you would your best friend. If your friend made a mistake, would you berate them for that mistake? Probably not.
So why do we treat ourselves differently? Pay attention to the words you choose and go easy on yourself.
4) Your support network needs work.
In a year like 2020, it’s easy to fall into this pattern. The support systems and networks of people that we could rely upon for assistance have vanished, causing significant disruption in self-care practices across the board.
Much of this is due to isolation and distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to nurture our support network.
Reach out to the friends that have similar aspirations and goals as you do, and be wary of the ones that are showing signs they need self-care too.
So be vigilant in who you keep in your support network as this can be all the difference from feeling overwhelmed and stressed to a life in balance.
5) Unpredictable mood
Increased irritability is another common sign you need self-care in your life. Moodiness can stem from a host of related incidents. And having trouble managing your mood is a sign you’re out of balance somewhere.
Notice your mood and take inventory of everything that is stressing you out. This can be work, family, the news, and more.
Once you’ve taken inventory, create a list of things you can control and the things you can’t. A lot of stress is over things that we actually cannot control, and thus need to understand that moodiness is a result of uncontrollable events.
Such as the constant beratement of bad news on feeds. We can’t control this news but we ‘feel it’. By focusing on what you can control you can drastically limit this moodiness in your own life.
Signs You Need Self Care Wrap Up
The key to taking care of yourself is to find out what you need to do and what your body needs. It is important to understand what you enjoy and how you can spend the time doing things that make you happy. Be open to new experiences: they can be a great opportunity for self-growth.
Take care of yourself by doing things that make you feel good and help you relax, like cooking a nice meal, reading, or listening to music. You should also get enough sleep and eat healthy food. Exercise can also be an excellent way for releasing stress and endorphins that will make us feel good too!
In the end, noticing the signs you need self care can make all the difference in managing stress. Keep these 5 tips close by and refer back when you feel something is out of balance.