Symptoms of Living – 10 Clear Signs You’re Truly Alive

Measure three concrete signals for 14 nights: total sleep hours, count of meaningful conversations, and minutes spent creating or learning. Track daily values in a simple spreadsheet; a change larger than 20% in any metric signals a substantial shift you can act on immediately. I describe the 10 signs below and tell you which metric to prioritize for each sign.

Social pulse matters: if you can connect with three different people per week and leave conversations feeling energised, that is clear evidence of social health. Extraverts typically score higher on frequency and feel lifted by short gatherings; introverts reach the same effect with fewer, deeper exchanges. Use a log to associate each contact with a mood rating; that log gives a clear baseline for pruning draining relationships and scheduling high-return interactions.

Agency shows up in small wins: completing one focused task each morning raises completion rate and momentum. Focus on acting rather than planning, measure your completion percentage, and aim for a 70% success rate across two weeks. Tell yourself it’s okay to miss a day; being mistaken about one setback does not erase progress. If you think you wouldnt notice change, run a 7-day blind test and compare objective scores before and after.

Sleep and recovery drive cognition: consistent sleep across 14 nights, not wild swings, predicts clearer thinking and steadier mood. Bright morning light gives alertness; dark, quiet environments improve REM quality. Treat your schedule like an educator would–teach your body cues with fixed wake times and a 20-minute pre-sleep wind-down. Notice when you respond to someones distress and take helpful action; that responsiveness is a measurable sign of emotional presence.

Three simple steps: 1. Track the three metrics for 14 nights. 2. Add one 20-minute creative block daily. 3. Review weekly and adjust one variable by 30 minutes or one social contact. These actions give objective feedback you can use right away, and they convert vague feelings into a repeatable process that proves you are alive and moving forward.

10 Clear, Measurable Signs to Check Right Now

Check these 10 measurable signs right now and record one number for each; act on any outliers within 48 hours.

1. Resting heart rate (RHR): measure on waking with a watch or pulse for 60 seconds. Normal adult range: 60–100 bpm; under 60 can be fine if athletic, over 100 warrants contacting professionals asap. If your RHR changed by >10 bpm compared with prior week, log activity, sleep and stress and follow up.

2. Sleep latency and duration: note how long it took you to fell asleep and total hours. Target 7–9 hours for adults and falling asleep within 30 minutes. If you fell asleep >45 minutes every time or total sleep <6 hours for three nights, adjust bedtime planning and test a dark, quiet room.

3. Social engagement score: count meaningful face-to-face interactions this week and average eye-contact length per interaction. Aim for ≥5 meaningful interactions/week and an average eye-contact of 3–5 seconds during conversation. If you avoid people or used ‘likes’ on social posts instead of in-person contact, schedule one bubbly meet-up with a buddy.

4. Curiosity index: record how many unfamiliar topics you explored this month (articles read, new recipes, short courses). Target at least 2 unfamiliar items/month. If curious actions = 0, pick one new subject that sparks interest and spend 30 minutes on it this weekend.

5. Task completion rate: count planned tasks vs completed tasks each day. Healthy range: complete ≥70% of planned tasks; everytime you fall below 50% for a week, review prior-day planning, shorten the task list, and assign one task to a buddy or calendar-block it.

6. Emotional recovery time: time (minutes/hours) to return to baseline after a stressful situation. Measure baseline mood with a 1–10 scale, then time to return to within 1 point. If recovery >24 hours repeatedly, that’s a telling sign to try 10 minutes of breathing and consult trusted support.

7. Physical activity and mobility: steps/day and one-breath test on inclines. Aim for ≥5,000 steps/day or a measurable increase of 20% over your prior month. If you avoid walking in town or felt shortness on a usual route, schedule a brisk 20‑minute walk and note time/distance.

8. Learning and novelty: count skills started or classes took this year. Target ≥1 new micro-skill per quarter. If you took none, start a 4-week class with a buddy and log weekly progress; curiosity and small wins predict sustained interest.

9. Generosity and helping behavior: track hours spent helping others or volunteering per month. Aim for ≥2 hours/month. If you gave zero and want to change, plan one small helping act this week – even carrying groceries for a neighbor counts.

10. Work and role functioning: measure consistency in meeting basic role expectations (on-time arrival, task handoffs) over 30 days. If performance looks unstable or you missed deadlines more than twice, flag tasks for immediate review and, if needed, contact supervisors or professionals to discuss support.

Use a simple spreadsheet or app to track these numbers daily; compare weekly medians, embrace small changes, and seek help asap for any metric that drifts significantly. These concrete checks tell you where to act, what to prioritize and when to ask a buddy or professionals for support.

Daily Sensation Log: Record Sleep, Appetite, Pain and Energy for One Week

Record four variables daily: bedtime/wake time (HH:MM), total sleep (h:mm), appetite rating 0–5 and what you crave, pain score 0–10 with location, plus energy 0–10 measured morning, midday and evening; fill this each evening.

Use this template per day: Date (e.g., June 03), Bed 23:15, Wake 07:00, Sleep 7:45, Sleep quality 1–5 = 4; Appetite 3 – craved carbs at 15:00; Pain 2 – lower back; Energy M=6, Mid=5, E=4 – felt sooo tired after work. Add short notes: meds taken, caffeine after 2pm, exercise, social contact (extraverts note level), and whether you felt recharged by evening.

Set concrete thresholds for action: average sleep <7_00 → add 30 minutes to bedtime next week; pain average>4 or worst daily ≥7 → schedule clinician visit to rule out disease; appetite 0–1 with weight loss >2% in 2 weeks → contact provider; energy variance >3 points day-to-day signals irregular recovery.

Track binary flags: exercised (Y/N), caffeine after 14:00 (Y/N), heavy meal within 2h of bed (Y/N), mood descriptors (bubbly, catty, offended, guilty, child-like). Count how many days each flag occurs and compare means: e.g., average evening energy when exercised = 7.2 vs when not exercised = 5.1. Whenever one flag aligns with lower energy or higher pain, mark that link as potentially causal.

Analyze results after seven entries: compute mean, range and standard deviation for sleep and energy; count days with appetite=5 (crave) and days with pain>3. Flag patterns that are more than one standard deviation from the mean. Note surface-level trends (e.g., “late caffeine linked to low morning energy”) and deeper patterns that resonate with lifestyle (e.g., irregular meals into high afternoon cravings).

Use simple comparisons to test hypotheses: if average energy on exercise days minus non-exercise days ≥2 points, increase weekly exercise frequency by one session; if bedtime shift of 30 minutes earlier raises sleep by ≥45 minutes, keep that change. Record whether the adjustment made you feel less guilty about lifestyle choices or whether it offended your social routine; adapt where feasible.

Keep one clear rule for safety: pain that increases over three consecutive days or any new numbness requires immediate medical contact; don’t ignore symptoms you think are minor – acute changes can signal disease. If you didnt get useful patterns in week one, continue two more weeks with the same log to reduce noise.

At week end create a one-paragraph summary: average sleep, average energy (morning/midday/evening), main appetite pattern (what you crave), pain hotspots, and two specific changes you will implement next week (timed and measurable). Save this summary somewhere you can review monthly – small, repeated adjustments yield lifetime improvements.

Example conclusion that resonates: “My brains feel clearer when I avoid caffeine after 14:00; evening walks raise my energy by 2 points and make me less likely to crave sugar.” Use that sentence as an actionable anchor and embrace the data – the log turns subjective moments into measurable steps you will use to improve how you feel.

Emotional Response Drill: Identify Two Recent Moments That Sparked Strong Feeling

Select two recent events and record them immediately: date, time, location, people involved, and a one-line summary of the trigger.

Rate each event on a 1–10 intensity scale (1 = mild, 10 = overwhelming). If a score is 7 or higher mark it as high; nearly everything above 8 calls for a follow-up within 48 hours. Note the moment you started to feel the shift and whether the sensation was almost instant or built slowly.

List concrete bodily cues (heart rate, sweating, stomach tightness, voice tone) and the primary emotion label (fear, anger, joy, relief). Write down three observable things you noticed in the environment that amplified the feeling: lighting (blue light?), proximity of others, and specific words they used.

Identify the trigger type: interpersonal (kevin said X), situational (room too loud), or internal (anxieties surfaced). Use a brief depth check: rate cognitive intensity 1–10, physical intensity 1–10, and behavioral urge 1–10. This gives you three data points to compare across events.

Turn insight into action: choose one immediate coping tactic (breath count, step outside for 5 minutes, send a short message) and one short-term plan (mailing a clarification note, set a 15-minute check-in with a friend). If they were social moments, plan a direct follow-up–ask for specifics or express how you felt.

Use personality signals (myers-briggs patterns, if you track them) to see whether you respond more to external challenges or inner doubts. People often respond differently in varied environments; note if responses were stronger in crowded rooms or quiet spaces apart from usual routines.

For each event assign one next-step and a metric to measure progress in seven days (example: reduce intensity from 8 to 5, or replace avoidance with one direct message). Be willing to ask for help; pick one person you trust to connect with and name them in your notes.

Compare the two entries: which events were tied to fear or anxieties and which felt charming or uplifting? If patterns appear (they were often triggered in noisy environments, or started after receiving a certain type of message), mark that pattern and select one structural change–adjust seating, change mailing habits, or schedule quiet prep time before meetings.

Use the data: track three sessions, calculate average intensity change, and report progress to yourself. If progress stalls, get specific support from someone willing to help or consult a coach familiar with practical tools. Keep records; they provide direct feedback rather than vague impressions.

Social Interaction Cue: Note Spontaneous Smiles, Touches or Concern in Three Encounters

Score three short encounters across a week: after each convo, note spontaneous smiles, any touch, and signs of concern; I recommend a simple 0–3 tally (0 none, 1 smile, 2 smile+touch, 3 concern+smile) and finish the entry within five minutes.

Focus on objective markers: a friendly smile that reaches the eyes and an unsolicited touch reliably raises dopamine and signals genuine attention, while a chat that feels novel rather than familiar signals curiosity. Watch how people speak in random situations, whether they notice you before you speak, and whether they register if you seem mentally absent.

Interpret scores quantitatively: two encounters scoring 2 or 3 out of three certainly indicates active reciprocal engagement; one or zero indicates lower social feedback. Rather than cancel plans after low scores, recharge with short, low-pressure interactions (a morning coffee chat, a small seminar, or a quick friendly hello) and repeat the three-encounter test the next week to reduce doubt.

Apply the method to practical examples: Natalia tracked responses after a leadership seminar and found that a brief touch and a follow-up message predicted longer, more supportive convos; she believes small gestures matter more than scripted intros. If someone gives an awful, flat reply, mark it down and compare it to someones later behavior across a lifetime of recordings to see patterns. Also use the same checklist for work and living contexts to calibrate who you invest time in.

Curiosity Test: Start a 30‑minute Mini-Project and Track Engagement Over Three Sessions

Do three timed 30‑minute sessions on Day 1, Day 3 and Day 7 using a visible timer and a single paper log; record start/end, interruptions, and a 1–10 immersion rating every 10 minutes.

Track these concrete metrics on a per‑session basis: total focused minutes (0–30), interruption count, task steps completed (count), ideas generated (count), and subjective immersion (1–10). Mark each interruption with a short cause label (phone, noisy environment, child, thought drift). Use checkboxes for each 5‑minute block so you can see when attention drops – many people’s behavior tends to shift after the first 10 minutes; note that pattern.

Set decision thresholds before you begin: average immersion ≥7 and focused minutes ≥25 across the three sessions definitely indicates strong curiosity; average immersion 4–6 with rising ideas suggests nascent interest; immersion ≤3 or focused minutes <15 means novelty wore off or the project misses appeal. if focused minutes fall by>20% from first to last session, treat that as a novelty effect rather than failure and change constraints.

Use three quick observational checks to improve understanding: 1) count interruptions and label cause (if noisy or a child caused >2 interruptions per session, move locations); 2) note affect during the deepest focus interval (smiles, furrowed brow, “sorta puzzled”, verbal self‑comments); 3) compare number of concrete outputs (notes, sketches) per session. Telling patterns – rising outputs with stable immersion – correlate with sustained curiosity.

If results puzzle you, ask a neutral observer to watch one session and annotate visible engagement; personally I once asked a muslim colleague to co‑observe and their simple note on posture and vocal self‑talk changed my interpretation. When you interrupt someone, apologize, then resume timing so data stays clean.

Adjustments based on outcomes: increase challenge if steps completed ≥80% and immersion ≥8; shorten scope to two 15‑minute sprints if you tire quickly; change sensory load if environment is noisy; add social accountability if ideas drop. Small changes usually produce measurable shifts within the last session.

Interpretation guidance: consistent rises in immersion and outputs means intrinsic curiosity; a big spike on Day 1 that fades means novelty; a flat low curve suggests the topic doesn’t resonate – change topic or constraints. Seeing even modest gains gives relief and a clearer basis for choosing the next project that will make you feel happier and more engaged on earth.

Forward‑Looking Indicator: Write Three Near‑Term Plans and Rate Your Drive to Pursue Them

Write three concrete near‑term plans now, give each a 0–10 drive rating, and schedule the first action on your calendar within 24 hours.

Use this template for each plan: Title – 30/60/90‑day target (numeric), primary metric (number), three required actions with time estimates, single obstacle, score drive 0–10 and one sentence why. Acting on one action within a day raises your drive score by ~1 point.

Plan 1 – Customer outreach: acquire 5 paying customers in 30 days; metric = 5 contracts signed; actions = (1) send 40 tailored emails (4 hours), (2) run 3 discovery calls (3 x 45 minutes), (3) refine pricing sheet (1 hour). Main problem: qualifying leads. Drive: 7 – I’ve picked a clear line of outreach and can measure faster traction after the first two calls.

Plan 2 – Skill sprint: complete a 6‑hour course and build a one‑page portfolio in 14 days; metric = portfolio live + 3 sample pieces; actions = (1) schedule four 90‑minute focus blocks in quietness each week, (2) apply feedback to one sample (2 hours), (3) publish and share with 10 peers. Drive: 5 – I feel conflicted between social plans and focused work, so I’m taking smaller blocks to prevent a pathetic half‑attempt.

Plan 3 – Personal health: lose 3 kg in 30 days and hit 10k steps daily; metric = −3 kg, 30/30 days hitting step goal; actions = (1) log food daily (5 minutes), (2) walk 30 minutes after lunch, (3) weigh weekly. Drive: 8 – I’ve figured out triggers (late snacks) and the purpose is clearer when I notice energy changes.

Rate drive using anchors: 0 = indifferent, 3 = apathetic/pathetic effort, 5 = cautious, 8 = committed, 10 = will reorganize calendar and tell customers or a friend. Mention whether you’ll commit publicly; saying “hello everybody, I’ll post progress weekly” increases follow‑through.

Decide priority by picking factors: impact (revenue, wellbeing), effort (hours), risk (stressful tradeoffs). If two plans score similar, choose the one with higher measurable return per hour; that yields faster feedback and reduces needing extra motivation.

To raise a low drive score: set a 48‑hour micro‑deadline, add a monetary stake with a friend or boyfriend who holds the money, split tasks into 15‑minute sprints, and block quietness on your calendar. Personalities respond differently: a bubbly friend may cheer you on; a reserved Adam or Luke may prefer written check‑ins.

Track progress daily, notice one micro‑win, and adjust timelines when the greatest constraint appears. If stress becomes the problem, cut one action, keep the metric, and reassign time. Saying the plan aloud to Sandy or somebody who understands your purpose helps convert plans into habits; write the three plans, rate drive, and take the first action now.