5 noticeable signs you need a mental break
I am no stranger to taking a mental health break. For those who are new to my blog, I stepped away from blogging for a little over a year to focus on my future more. Without going into much detail, I was a pre-med student but decided I had a stronger passion for psychology (which was my major.) Fast forward to now — I am on the journey to becoming a clinical psychologist. I am a life coach (who also works in the ER.) My blog name + niche has changed (so if you see my old name that is why.)
I have had a lot on my plate during this past year between switching universities to studying for the GRE exam and doing volunteer work that is required to graduate (this doesn't include being a full-time student, working in the ER or adding an internship to my schedule (and personal things.) This is where mental breaks are necessary + should really be done before reaching a breaking point. I will share with you signs it's time to take a mental break (later I will cover preventing these things from building up.)
You become sick, often
If you don't slow down, your body will slow down for you. It's a great thing to be busy but it can destroy your health mentally and physically. Stress takes a toll on your body making your immune system weak which means taking time away from what you need to get done. Not spreading yourself thin will help to avoid this from happening. Make sure you get plenty of sleep and listen to your body when it's telling you to relax.
Have trouble falling asleep
There can be many reasons someone has trouble falling asleep but a big reason is not being able to shut down the thoughts in your mind (usually related to the list of things that still need to be done.) This is another way your body is telling you that a mental break is needed. If you experience having these issues, write everything that needs to be done or that comes into your mind. Doing that will help clear your head and give you a better night sleep.
Unable to focus + feeling overwhelmed
There have been times I have sat in front of my professors or computer and could not focus on the task at hand because I was too busy worrying about all the other things I needed to be doing. Instead of stressing yourself out, tackle one thing at a time from most important to least and tell yourself you have control over what needs to be done, this way you'll have relief in knowing you can focus on what's in front of you and not think about the million other things.
Being Emotional/Irritable
We all have our moments when it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and all you want to do is break down and cry. Now it's not a bad thing to let out a good cry (just don't continue to stay that way.) Instead of lashing out at someone because of all the stress, try taking a deep breath (or five) and be silent. Think about what you will say to someone before you say it. and know of your emotions. You don't want to make people feel they don't want to be around you because you're treating them poorly, but also let them know you are going through things right now.
You feel exhausted both physically and mentally
The moment you felt like you haven't slept in days, headaches are brewing and you're dragging your feet.. you have gone way past needing a mental break. You should never let your body get to this point (which I am guilty of.) Whether you need to take a few days off from work, school or cancel a bunch of things off your schedule, that's what has to happen to lift yourself back up again.
If taking a mental break doesn't help, it could be time to seek professional help from a doctor or therapist.
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