12 Signs That You Should Take A Break

It's so important to give yourself a break from things from time to time. It might be that you need to take a step back from work, home life, social events or that evergrowing to-do list but whatever it is, spending time away from whatever it is that is causing you problems, stress or anxiety and giving yourself some time and self-care is the best and most healthy thing you can do.

*Disclaimer, these signs are all my opinion and in no way medically proven*

Today, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of panic and worry. I've had what feels like one of the busiest two weeks of the year so far and I wouldn't say I'm coping with it very well... at all. On top, I've got an amazing weekend planned and I can only enjoy it if I give myself a break, even if it's just for a day to recuperate and gather my thoughts.

There have been moments, like this one, that have told me that I need to take a break and I need to listen to what my body is telling me because otherwise, I'm going to crash and burn which is the last thing I want to do. There are so many signs that you can look out for and tell you that you need some you-time and I thought I'd share some with you today.

1. Your mental wellbeing is being affected.
   If you think that you're not in the best frame of mind then instantly, you probably need to take a break. Signs of worrying, panic, overthinking and unstable emotional status means that you need to instantly take some time for yourself.
2. There are too many things to think about.
   If you find that you can't seem to gather or order your thoughts, think about taking some time away. Whether it's for a day or a week, time away to not think is so important. It also means you can go back to your list and thoughts with a fresh mindset.
3. Lack of sleep.
   Not sleeping very much? You probably need a break. Getting up and going to bed later than normal are a big sign that you're mental wellbeing isn't right and that you need to stop for a bit.
4. Headaches you can't explain.
   Sometimes, some people get tension headaches which are awful and caused by stress. Currently, I'm nursing one of these and they present themselves a little like a dehydration headache. It was the moment I started to get my headache that I realised that it's all been a little too much and I need to take some time to pause.
5. You're not getting time to do the things you enjoy.
   It's usually clear to see when I'm having good days and when I'm not too much. Recently I've had to pause the new posts because I can't manage my time too well and with so much going on, I haven't really been able to enjoy blogging. I don't want to write posts just because and all my scheduling is out of sync. Blogging will resume as normal next week on Friday but until then, there'll be no new posts as I need a break and I wouldn't be able to enjoy it if I didn't.
6. You feel hugely overwhelmed.
   It can be really difficult to tell if you're overwhelmed or not and it varies from person to person. I show my feelings through my actions a lot and so if I'm overwhelmed, my body and mind seem to shut down.
7. Crying is happening too regularly.
   Girls, let's be honest. Sometimes, we just crack and cry. If you're crying a lot about a lot of things, you should take some time to do something that'll make you smile instead.
8. You're being unusually quiet/loud.
   Personality traits normally go the polar opposite to what we're really like when we need to take a break and have some self-care. For me, I turn unbelievably quiet but I know some people who get louder. This is usually a trait noticed by others who will help you identify if you need to take a break.
9. The focus has gone out the window.
   If you can't concentrate on anything, then again, take some time to recuperate. You can't focus if your mind isn't performing at it's best.
10. Zero motivation exists.
    Don't want to do anything? It's probably time to take a break. I know that if I have zero motivation, I need to stop and find my mojo again. Having zero motivation can be dangerous, especially in my line of work. I love my job but I need to feel motivated as often as I can so that I improve and do my job better as well as do the things I need to do out of hours. 
11. You're oversleeping.
    Sleeping through alarms, later than when you normally get up and napping throughout the day are massive signs that you need to take some time for self-care. This is your body shutting down and telling you, no, you need more rest.
12. Your body is telling you to take a break.
    I think we all have a little voice inside our heads that tells us when we need to stop and it's a voice we need to listen to often. Ignoring it is dangerous for our mental health and it's usually right whether we like it or not. If your body is shutting down and trying to sleep earlier, keeping you awake or if you're not functioning the way you normally would in any way, shape or form, check yourself over and see if actually, all you need is some rest. I think as a society, we spend too much time ignoring signs our bodies send us which means it needs to stop and recuperate. We need to learn to listen to it so we can get back to doing what we do best at our best.

When was the last time you took a break? I'll be taking one now for a couple of days and then again from Tuesday for a week. Blogging will resume as normal after that!