Signs You Need To Relax More

It's easy to get caught up in everyday life when you're constantly on the go. It's normal to want to have a social life, succeed at your job, and have alone time, but if you don't think you need to relax, you can burnout from exhaustion. While the way you decide to live your life is ultimately up to you, you're not going to be completely happy if you don't put yourself first in some ways. You need to listen to your gut and if you feel like you need to take a step back, then do it.

"Most people who need to relax, feel that they are just 'wired' that way. If you had any trauma or stress as a child, assume you carry some protective coping strategies into adulthood. I'm of course, a huge proponent of therapy but, you can also pay attention to your physical body. Do you have aches and pains? Rashes and allergies? Find yourself binge-eating or struggling to lose a few pounds? Do you have high cholesterol? High resting heart rate? These might all be signs of needing to relax. I personally relax by reading; my clients are all unique. Most are entrepreneurs or in leadership roles; I suggest reading to them but some also have expressed interest in learning a new hobby, one that they didn't have time for when they were building their business; some prefer to watch movies or inspirational talks. Either way, your need to connect to your physical body more and then balance it with lifestyle changes," says zen psychotherapist and neuromarketing strategist Michele Paiva in an interview with Bustle over email.

You didn't fail at life if you need to take a break. Just because you think you need to be "on" all the time doesn't mean you should. Here are nine signs you need to relax more before you burnout.

1. You're On Edge

Stress can seriously affect your mood if you don't manage it in a healthy way. If you find yourself annoyed by things that you're not normally annoyed by, then that might be a clear indicator that you need to relax. "You are physically jumpy or over-reactive emotionally. You may be extra tired, sleep deprived, and stressed out," says lifestyle coach for women Stephanie Mansour in an interview with Bustle over email.

2. Your Neck Muscles Hurt

Some people tend to tense their shoulder area when they feel stressed out, which can result to back and muscle pain. "Your shoulders and neck hurt from chronically tensing your muscles in your neck," says Mansour.

3. People Tell You To Relax

"While other peoples' comments shouldn't make you change your life, it can be helpful to analyze these outside comments and decide for yourself if they have some validity," says Mansour. When you're wrapped up in your own life, it can be hard to view your problems from an outsiders' perceptive. So if your loved ones keep on telling you to relax, it might be because they are noticing your character is changing due to your stress. Take the advice with a grain of salt, but have an open mind if you continue to hear that comment over and over again.

4. You Always Put Work Before Anything Else

There's no way you can relax if you always say yes to more work. Don't feel pressured to accept assignments when your boss asks you all the time. "You feel put upon, can’t say no to people/tasks, or put aside pleasures to get things done," says psychotherapist and author Karen R. Koenig M.Ed., L.C.S.W., in an interview with Bustle over email.

5. You Want To Be Alone More Often

While there's nothing wrong with a little alone time, you might want it more often if you feel stressed out. "You’ve been refusing to engage in social activities or ensuring that you have alone time to take care of yourself," says Koenig.

6. You Can't Focus

How can you focus when you have so much on your mind? If you only let your brain rest when you fall asleep at night, you could be on the verge of a burnout if you're not careful. "Your ability to focus is decreasing," says Koenig.

7. You Snap At People

It's time to relax if you can't control your emotions, especially if you snap at people. It's important to be more aware of when you start to feel stressed so you don't use someone else as a human punching bag. “One sign of stress is when you snap at your boyfriend, friend, co-worker, etc. — even though they did nothing wrong, per say. How many times have you had an argument with someone after you needed to make a tight deadline at work, had a rough commute home or were under serious pressure. It happens, and it’s a sign that you need to take a step back and invest in some 'me' time," says certified meditation coach and co-founder of the OMG. I Can Meditate! app Lynne Goldberg in an interview with Bustle over email.

8. You're Not Thinking Straight

It's can be hard to deal with stress when you make poor decisions and can't think straight. Sometimes people just want to find a quick-and-easy solution to their stress, instead of trying to find ways to manage it for a longer period of time. "If you do feel this stress indicator, try meditating. When we meditate, we release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin — making us feel happier and less stressed. Meditating also enables us to think more calmly with clarity, so you can react more level-headed in a situation where you otherwise might not," says Goldberg.

While you do have a lot of important tasks to complete, those things shouldn't be put before your well-being. Take a few moments to treat yourself to some "me" time every day to hep destress from the day.

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