Everyone’s in a competition to get ahead, and too often, that can come at the cost of your well-being. While adopting the hustle culture is perfectly fine, it shouldn’t sacrifice your mental, emotional or physical health.

 

Nobody expects you to know intuitively what vitamin deficiencies you’re dealing with, and there isn’t anyone who could tell you what their body is lacking just by thinking about it. So, consider looking out for these body signals when you want to understand your body and live better!

 

Related Story: 7 Nutritional Deficiencies That Can Wreck Your Mental Health

 

Your Mood and Thoughts Are Important Too 

While, sometimes, you may be able to give your 100% to many tasks at hand, having your mind constantly working at full capacity isn’t just challenging, it’s draining. If you’re under constant stress that is weighing your whole body down, it might be time to take a break. Some signs to watch out for are:

• Constant overthinking
• Feeling unable to control emotions
• Lack of confidence
• Feeling overwhelmed or burnt out
• Not being able to focus or concentrate

 

It’s natural to feel anxious, upset or stressed at times. However, continuing as if nothing has happened isn’t recommended in these situations. Whether it’s taking a day off, daily meditation, self-care, or seeing a psychologist, make a move that feels right for your mind and emotions.

 

Related Story: Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: 5 Differences to Know

 

Pushing Through When You Don’t Need To 

You wake up feeling fatigued, and going through your daily activities feels like a burden. Pushing yourself when your body is telling you something different can lead to severe consequences. Some symptoms that can signify that your health needs a closer inspection are:

• Frequent headaches or migraines
• Constant body aches and pains
• Uncontrollable allergies
• Occasional cold or flu
• Viral fevers
• Feeling lack of energy or fatigued

If you don’t feel well or have consistently felt like your body hasn’t been able to keep up, you need to find out what it can be. Many conditions lie hidden until we start listening to our body signals.

 

See a doctor if you feel physically unwell for a long time, and pay attention to when your body tells you to rest. A doctor can diagnose you with a condition that can lie dormant or unseen to you, such as:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Sciatica
• Lyme Disease
• Crohn’s Disease
• Anaemia
• Vitamin D deficiency

 

Ignoring Physical Needs 

While sitting on the couch and streaming through a couple of hours’ worth of shows and movies is appealing, you shouldn’t be making it your regular way of life. When your body doesn’t get the exercise it requires, it can lead to a host of problems for you in the future. Ask yourself these questions to evaluate your physical fitness:

• Do you get at least an hour of physical movement or exercise in a day?
• Do small physical activities make you feel tired?
• Do you run out of breath climbing stairs?
• Are you constantly sitting or lying down with no movement?

 

There’s no need to become a fitness enthusiast at once, but making small changes over time can lead to a healthier lifestyle. More exercise can mean a 10 minute yoga practice, taking phone calls while walking, or swimming—you don’t need to purchase a gym membership, just yet! Ensure that fitness becomes a regular habit when you find activities you like and enjoy.

 

Related Story: Celebrity Fitness Trainer On Five At-Home Workouts

 

Not Communicating With Your Body 

Whether you’re missing your routine health check-ups or not understanding the implications of your medication, misinterpreting body signals is common. Sometimes, you might be suffering from a condition because of medication or birth control you are taking, and other times it can be something completely different.

 

If you notice specific symptoms like:

• Heavy bleeding
• Missed periods
• Itching in your vaginal area
• Strange vaginal discharge
• Painful sex
• Pain during urination

It would be wise not to delay visiting a doctor to find out what’s wrong.

 

Mind, Body, Spirit – All in Harmony 

Don’t be daunted by the prospect of making holistic changes to your life, and ensure you have a good attitude to make it easier. While eating junk and processed foods might seem convenient to you, over time, it can lead to many side effects like:

• Weight gain
• Hormone imbalance
• Skin conditions
• Loss of appetite
• Digestive problems

When you make up your mind to eat what makes your mind, body, and spirit feel nourished, you’ll see the effects in no time. Intuitive, healthy and mindful eating can be beneficial for many reasons and ensure your body is in harmony.

 

Don’t Get It Twisted, It’s All Quite Simple!

Many people tend to overcomplicate matters when it comes right down to it. Listening to your body signals is quite simple, but overthinking what your body needs can make you misinterpret the signs. Similarly, neglecting to listen to your body can over complicate your issues in the long term. Take a simple five minutes out of your day to evaluate whether your body and mind feel okay is crucial for any person. Make a ritual of it, perhaps you’d like to do this when you just get into bed.

 

Try listening to your body signals today and see what they have to say. Don’t ghost your own body; respond to it when the time comes!