Listening to Your Body: Subtle Signs You Need Rest (Not Just Sleep)

If you’re like me it’s quite possible that you have been conditioned over the years to stay on the go. Whether it’s kids, family, work, or other responsibilities resting is usually not an option. Or so you may have set your mind to believe. Body aches, mental fog, pure exhaustion? Shake it off girl, drink some coffee and keep moving. Sounds great, but before the body screams it whispers. Lean it, do you hear it? Those little signals that let us know our steam is running low. Precious energy that is slowly being depleted. Energy that can only be replenished by true rest. Learning to listen to those whispers is possibly one of the most powerful acts of body awareness and self care.

Most of us think of rest as sleep. However, resting the body is not just about sleep. You can be getting several acceptable hours of sleep daily and still feel completely drained. It’s not just about the physical it is also mental, and spiritual, and emotional. Often in ways we aren’t even aware of or acknowledge.

So what are some ways our body let’s us know it’s time for some serious self care?

1. You Are Easily Irritated By Small Things

Ever notice yourself snapping at those around you over very minor inconveniences? Every person at the store is doing something to annoy you? Server isn’t fast enough? Kids questions are just too much? The air’s not the right temp? The husband, well everything? When our energy levels are low even minor inconveniences feel like major issues. This my friend is emotional fatigue, and it's your body’s way of ask you to, "Please slow down."

What we can do:
Take a few minutes here and there throughout the day to reset. Yes, even if it’s just a few minutes. No phone. No conversations. Just breathe. Journal for a min. Go sit in a closet. Or do NOTHING. Your mind is begging for a moment of stillness. Little moments add up.

2. You’re Find Your Thoughts Fumbling

Mental fog isn't just about being tired. Although there are other things that can cause it most of the time it is just our body’s way of needing mental rest. Your brain has a limit. Overthinking, overstimulation and too much going on in life can cause mental overload and with that it begins to misfire.

What we can do:
Again step away and reset. And don’t run to scroll. Although it may seem like a break it’s not rest. Walk away. Do a quick meditation. Go for a walk outside. Do something mindless. Give your brain a quiet moment. Music can also help, but try to choose something without lyrics. Binaural beats or solfeggio frequencies are a perfect choice and are known for giving the brain a reset.

3. Your Body Feels Heavy but Not Sleepy

It’s not like an I need a nap feeling. It’s more like a dragging your own body kind of feeling. This heaviness is your body whispering that it’s been going for too long. You might think that you haven’t even done enough physical activity to warrant this kind of feeling. Anything that has been pulling energy from you in any way, shape or form can drain you physically. Your body is asking you to pause and give it a break.

What we can do:
Try any restorative activity: yoga, gently stretching, laying on the floor with your legs up on something, or even just laying stretched out on the floor. Hammocks are great or anything that gives gentle rocking to the body.

4. You’re Overthinking Everything (Again)

If you notice your indecisiveness and mental chatter are ramping up, feeling anxious or overthinking EVERYTHING. This is a clear sign that your nervous system needs a break. Every thought can feel overwhelming and again this is your body whispering to you to give it some attention.

What can we do:
This is a good one. Give yourself permission to not make any decisions for a set period of time. Unless it's life urgent it can wait. Get into some comfy clothes, silence your notifications and put it down, and just take a break. If you need to quickly jot down on a piece of paper any pressing items, leave it in a safe place and walk back to it later. Trust me it will wait for you.

5. You Either Feel Numb or Overstimulated

Some days you may feel nothing at all and question your human emotions. Other days, You feel every emotion at once. You’re swinging on a pendulum that may turn wrecking ball if you ignore the whispers.

What can we do:
This is a sign to rest your spirit. Go to your sacred space, wherever that may be. Take a bath. Go to your meditation spot. Maybe it’s your internal garden. Wherever you feel safe. Meditate, pray, speak kind words to yourself, take some deep breaths and exhale. Make a mental list of all the things you’re grateful for, all the things that have brought you joy. Give yourself some grace and just be. I know this can be challenging in the midst of emotions or lack there of but if you make it a habit and tell yourself, “no matter how I feel I am taking time to return to me.” I promise it will become second nature. Speak kindly to yourself. Listen to frequency music or sit quietly and just be. You don’t have to fix anything—just allow yourself to exist in softness.

6. You're Anxious & Restless but Unmotivated

Here’s the truth. Motivation is lie. Do we experience it from time to time. Sure. But like other feelings it is passing and highly relies on the state of emotions. Anxiety and restless can be caused by many different things but we can face it head on and despite how we feel we can discipline ourselves to push through. Honor the feeling and move through it. Do something even when you don’t want to do anything. Even if it’s small. Little moments add up.

What we can do:
Return to yourself. Honor your feelings and give gratitude to a body that cares for you day in and day out moving you through this precious life. Breathe. Find your anchors. Give yourself grace and decide to act in spite of. Returning to discipline over and over again is vital to moving forward in anything.

7. You’re Craving Alone Time

Yes, we need each other. No, wanting to alone time does not mean that you are antisocial. Sometimes, but not always. Energetic overstimulation is real and everyone is different. Some need time with others to regain their energy. Others need time alone. You do you, and don’t feel guilty for needing to step away for a minute. Relax, reset, and then get back to it.

What we can do:
Honor that feeling. Get offline if you need to. Go eat by yourself. See a movie. Veg with your favorite book. Be in your own space and your own energy. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. This practice can be deeply healing and extremely beneficial to those around you.

Final Thoughts

Listen to your body. Listen to what it is telling you. There is a small whisper in all of us and if you think about it we already know it very well. We hear it daily. But sadly, we just choose to ignore it. The more in tune you are, the more you listen, the less chance you’ll crash hard crash later. Rest doesn’t always mean sleeping, it can mean taking a moment to pause, giving yourself some space, and allowing your body to naturally reset itself so that you can continue to be your best.