Do you need to make a lifestyle change? Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. How do you know if you need to make a change? From family to friends, everybody has their own opinions on how you should be living your life. Perhaps you’re considering a change because someone mentioned something in passing, or they could have said it outright. However, you are the only person who can make that decision but it’s not always clear when you need a change.

Sometimes those who care about you are right when they suggest you need a change but you can’t always take someone else’s advice or opinion as word of law. Most of the time, when it comes to making huge, life-altering changes, you need to make that choice yourself. The good news is, there are tell-tale signs you can look for that indicate you may need a lifestyle change.

Pointing your life in a new direction is more of a mental shift than you may think. So, it’s understandable that many of the indicators you’re due for a change are also mental. Let’s take a closer look at some things that could be telling you it’s time.

Are You Dissatisfied With the Way Things Are?

How satisfied are you with your life right now? You might not be 100% sure of the answer. So, here are some questions that will get you delving deeper into how you truly feel about your life.

• Do you like the way you look and speak to yourself kindly about your body or do you grumble to the mirror every time you catch a glimpse as you walk by?
• Do you feel healthy and have a sense of holistic wellbeing or do you constantly find yourself not feeling your best?
• Can your body do the things you want it to or do you often wish it could do more than it can?
• How often do you pine for the slimmer, fitter, healthier version of yourself from years ago and think about the past instead of living in the present?
• Do you wish something, or maybe a few things, could be different?
• Are you waiting for something to change, as if waiting for someone, or something, to give you permission to make that change or for it to fall into your lap?

These are some poignant questions. The answers could be telling you it’s time to make a drastic change.

You Feel Depressed

The term ‘depressed’ is often used to describe how we feel when we’re feeling blue. Life isn’t always going to go your way and it’s not always going to be sunshine and roses. Even the people who appear to have everything they could ever want can feel down in the dumps. However, feeling ‘depressed’ a lot of the time could be your mind’s way of telling you that you need to make a change that will bring more happiness into your life.

Important Note: Clinical depression is a very serious condition that needs professional help to treat successfully. What I’m referring to is how we use the word to describe a blue mood that can seep into many areas of our lives and seem to constantly plague us. If you think you may really have depression, please seek the help and attention you need to overcome it so you can get well and live your best life.

You’re Not Showing Yourself Love

When you’re unhappy with your lot in life, you can easily fall into the trap of thinking that you’re not worthy of loving yourself or that it’s a waste of time because it’s not going to help. Self-love is an integral part of enjoying your life. When you don’t show yourself the same kind of love you show others, it has a negative impact on everyone. Why? If you don’t invest in yourself, recharge, and take care of yourself, you’re going to end up with no fuel in the tank, and then how are you going to take care of and show love to others?

I know, taking time out for yourself might feel like you’re being selfish. Heck, sometimes there will even be people who will tell you you’re being selfish. The truth is, self-care isn’t selfish. You are the most important thing in your life. Now, I know that you’re thinking, “No, I’m not! It’s my husband/children/family.” Just remember what I said, when you don’t look after yourself, there will come a time when you can’t look after anyone else.

You’re Always Stressed

Short-term stress is normal. Chronic stress that just seems to go on and on without letting up isn’t. Stress is also a killer. Stress can make you feel unhappy, lead to clinical depression, and even affect your sense of self-worth. If you find yourself feeling like you’re drowning in stress, you probably need to make some changes.

So, What Now?

These are only a few of the ‘symptoms’ of needing to make a crucial lifestyle change. When you connect the dots, each one impacts the other, creating a vicious cycle where they all constantly ‘feed’ each other until you spiral down a rabbit hole into a physical and mental health disaster.

I’m here to tell you that you can change, that you’re worth it. I needed to change and it took me quite a while to realize it. Had I been paying attention to the signs, maybe I would have made the change earlier. Spend some time reflecting on your life and how you truly think and feel about yourself and the way things are. You’ll thank yourself for it because introspection is a great stepping stone to help you know you need a change and it’s not just someone else’s opinion.

Check back in a few days because in the next post I’m doing to explore just how cleaning up your diet, getting active, and boosting your mental wellness can transform your life and combat the signs we’ve just discussed.