- You dread waking up. Whether it’s the alarm clock blaring in your ear, or the fact that you just can’t sleep at night, mornings become a burden. We all know that each day is a gift, but when that gift seems more of a “prank” gift, it’s probably time to start thinking about the return policy.
- Your weight has dramatically changed. Very few people are completely happy with their bodies. But, when your body starts to change on its own without you specifically setting out to make it change, it’s your body’s way of sending you a warning. Consider it a warning shot fired by your brain to grab your attention.
- To Do Lists Feel Like Prison Sentences. It’s kind of human nature to enjoy checking things off of a to-do list. That momentary sense of accomplishment is fuel for the next thing on the list. But, when you look at the list you’ve made and everything on it looks like it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, you’re probably right.
- You often think about moving. It’s easy to forget that we humans are still animals. Our initial reaction to any kind of stress is to decide between Fight or Flight. If your mind is defaulting to everyday stress with a Flight thought, it’s your mind’s way of recommending a break.
- Funny things just aren’t funny anymore. Laughter is a way for our minds to take little mini-breaks. When you don’t find things funny anymore, it’s a clear sign that your mind is preoccupied with too many serious things at once.
- People bug the bejesus out of you. You work with the same person every day and they dress the same way every day and you never think twice about it. But, one day you find yourself wanting to scream, “Would you please, please, stop wearing 1990s cardigans every day!” (with an exclamation point instead of a question mark), then you definitely need a break.
- You hate everybody. In today’s world, it’s sometimes hard to find reasons to like someone. More often than not, we are indifferent to most people in our lives. But, when the pendulum swings, and you can single out a specific reason why you dislike most people, it’s usually more of a reflection of how we feel about our own lives.
- You answer “Yes” or “No” before you even finish hearing the question. Sometimes, the sound of someone’s voice, anyone’s voice, for that matter, is so frustrating that you find yourself answering questions before you have any idea what the person is asking. Just for the record, this is the one that can really cause you problems down the road when your spouse shows up with a new kitten you are told you approved.
- Can you repeat the question? The people around you are usually so predictable in their questions that you tune them out, catching just enough words here or there to answer. But, when you find yourself asking “What was that again?” or “Can you repeat that?” or “Excuse me, I didn’t catch that,” then you have elevated your game to the tuning everything out stage. You definitely need a break once you top that hill.
- Food sucks. Whether you cook it yourself, order it in a restaurant, or have a meal waiting for you at home, at the point where you are constantly criticizing the food you are eating, you’re missing out on one of life’s true pleasures.
Bonus – 11. Everything on social media makes you want to vomit. Okay, this one is tricky because everything on social media makes everyone want to vomit, whether they need a break or not. But, at the point where you need to express that feeling out loud, you definitely need a break.