When do you realize you're stressed? Is it when you feel completely overwhelmed or when you can't take it anymore? The reality is, stress begins long before your mind fully acknowledges it.

Here are three early warning signs that can help you recognize stress before it takes a toll:

1. Sleep Problems

Stress often impacts your sleep before you even recognize it as the culprit. You might go to bed with your mind racing—thinking about problems, planning the next day’s to-do list—without connecting the dots between this mental activity and poor sleep quality.

After a few nights of tossing and turning, you might start to notice that it’s difficult to turn off your mind. That’s when you realize stress has taken hold. By paying attention to your sleep habits early on, you can address stress before it worsens your rest.

2. Lack of Exercise

One of the first things people under stress tend to give up is exercise. It’s easy to let it slip—maybe you’re too tired, didn’t sleep well, or feel overwhelmed with work and no longer have time to work out.

When you start skipping workouts, ask yourself if it’s just temporary or if stress is taking over. Are you filling the time you used to spend exercising with less productive activities, like watching TV? If so, it may be a sign that stress is creeping in.

3. Poor Eating Habits

Stress often leads to poor eating choices. You might find yourself reaching for comfort foods like ice cream, high-carb meals, or an extra glass of wine because "I’ve had a long day." This is a common sign of stress.

Unfortunately, under stress, we tend to do the opposite of what’s healthy. Instead of opting for fruits and vegetables, we indulge in foods that temporarily soothe our discomfort, even though we know they aren’t the best choices. Recognizing this pattern can help you take better care of yourself.

Stress Management Tip:

Start paying attention to your behaviors. How much of what you do under stress is geared toward truly taking care of yourself? And how much of it is short-term comfort that could have long-term consequences?

When you're under stress, make sure you're getting enough sleep, maintaining your exercise routine, and eating better than you would during less stressful times. If you can stick to these habits, you'll avoid making things worse—an essential part of managing stress is simply not letting it spiral.