diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 75082f9..bb80e96 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ Because fancy-cat provides sensible defaults, you only need to specify the optio
       " ",
       { "view": { "text": "VIS" }, "command": { "text": "CMD" } },
       "   <path> ",
-      { "idle": { "text": " " }, "reload": { "text": "*" } }, 
+      { "idle": { "text": " " }, "reload": { "text": "*" }, "watching": { "text": " " } },
       "<separator><page>:<total_pages> "
     ]
   },
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ The `items` property can be set to an array of status bar items, which include:
 * **[plain items](#plain-items)**: text with default styling
 * **[styled items](#styled-items)**: text with custom [styling](#style)
 * **[mode-aware items](#mode-aware-items)**: styled items to be displayed depending on the current mode
-* **[reload-aware items](#reload-aware-items)**: styled items to be displayed depending on the current reload indicator state
+* **[reload-aware items](#reload-aware-items)**: styled items to be displayed depending on the file monitor state and the reload activity
 #### Plain Items
 
 Plain items are just strings that may include placeholders (e.g., `<page>:<total_pages>`). These placeholders are replaced with dynamic content at runtime.
@@ -346,12 +346,13 @@ Mode-aware items switch their content based on the current mode. Each item must
 
 #### Reload-aware Items
 
-Reload-aware items switch their content based on the reload indicator state. Each item must include at least one of:
+Reload-aware items switch their content based on the file monitor state and the reload activity. Each item must include at least one of:
 
 | Property | Type | Description |
 | :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| `idle` | [Styled item](#styled-items) | Item to display when the reload indicator is off |
-| `reload` | [Styled item](#styled-items) | Item to display when the reload indicator is on |
+| `idle` | [Styled item](#styled-items) | Item to display when the file monitor is disabled |
+| `reload` | [Styled item](#styled-items) | Item to display when the file monitor is enabled and the reload indicator is on |
+| `watching` | [Styled item](#styled-items) | Item to display when the file monitor is enabled and the reload indicator is off |
 
 >[!TIP]
 >Try using placeholders in mode- and reload-aware items to enhance feedback!
diff --git a/src/Context.zig b/src/Context.zig
index 9595756..36a717a 100644
--- a/src/Context.zig
+++ b/src/Context.zig
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub const Event = union(enum) {
 
 pub const ModeType = enum { view, command };
 pub const Mode = union(ModeType) { view: ViewMode, command: CommandMode };
-pub const ReloadIndicatorState = enum { idle, reload };
+pub const ReloadIndicatorState = enum { idle, reload, watching };
 
 pub const Context = struct {
     const Self = @This();
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ pub const Context = struct {
     should_check_cache: bool,
     reload_indicator_timer: ReloadIndicatorTimer,
     current_reload_indicator_state: ReloadIndicatorState,
+    reload_indicator_active: bool,
     buf: []u8,
 
     pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, args: [][:0]u8) !Self {
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ pub const Context = struct {
             .should_check_cache = config.cache.enabled,
             .reload_indicator_timer = reload_indicator_timer,
             .current_reload_indicator_state = .idle,
+            .reload_indicator_active = false,
             .buf = buf,
         };
     }
@@ -155,9 +157,16 @@ pub const Context = struct {
             if (self.watcher) |*w| {
                 w.setCallback(callback, &loop);
                 self.watcher_thread = try std.Thread.spawn(.{}, watcherWorker, .{ self, w });
-            }
-            if (self.config.status_bar.enabled and self.config.file_monitor.reload_indicator_duration > 0) {
-                try self.reload_indicator_timer.start(&loop);
+                self.current_reload_indicator_state = .watching;
+                if (self.config.status_bar.enabled and self.config.file_monitor.reload_indicator_duration > 0) {
+                    for (self.config.status_bar.items) |item| {
+                        if (item == .reload_aware) {
+                            try self.reload_indicator_timer.start(&loop);
+                            self.reload_indicator_active = true;
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -221,13 +230,13 @@ pub const Context = struct {
                 try self.document_handler.reloadDocument();
                 self.cache.clear();
                 self.reload_page = true;
-                if (self.config.status_bar.enabled and self.config.file_monitor.reload_indicator_duration > 0) {
+                if (self.reload_indicator_active) {
                     self.current_reload_indicator_state = .reload;
                     self.reload_indicator_timer.notifyChange();
                 }
             },
             .reload_done => {
-                self.current_reload_indicator_state = .idle;
+                self.current_reload_indicator_state = .watching;
             },
         }
     }
@@ -346,8 +355,9 @@ pub const Context = struct {
                 },
                 .reload_aware => |reload_aware| {
                     switch (self.current_reload_indicator_state) {
-                        .reload => try expandPlaceholders(&expanded_items, reload_aware.reload),
                         .idle => try expandPlaceholders(&expanded_items, reload_aware.idle),
+                        .reload => try expandPlaceholders(&expanded_items, reload_aware.reload),
+                        .watching => try expandPlaceholders(&expanded_items, reload_aware.watching),
                     }
                 },
             }
diff --git a/src/config/Config.zig b/src/config/Config.zig
index fc512ad..5d49baf 100644
--- a/src/config/Config.zig
+++ b/src/config/Config.zig
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ pub const StatusBar = struct {
     pub const ReloadAwareItem = struct {
         idle: StyledItem,
         reload: StyledItem,
+        watching: StyledItem,
     };
     pub const Item = union(enum) {
         styled: StyledItem,
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ pub const StatusBar = struct {
         .{ .reload_aware = .{
             .idle = .{ .text = " ", .style = default_style },
             .reload = .{ .text = "*", .style = default_style },
+            .watching = .{ .text = " ", .style = default_style },
         } },
         .{ .styled = .{ .text = SEPARATOR, .style = default_style } },
         .{ .styled = .{ .text = PAGE, .style = default_style } },
@@ -378,6 +380,7 @@ fn applyStyle(item: StatusBar.Item, style: vaxis.Cell.Style, allocator: std.mem.
     var reload_aware_item: StatusBar.Item = .{ .reload_aware = StatusBar.ReloadAwareItem{
         .idle = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = style },
         .reload = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = style },
+        .watching = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = style },
     } };
 
     switch (item) {
@@ -391,8 +394,9 @@ fn applyStyle(item: StatusBar.Item, style: vaxis.Cell.Style, allocator: std.mem.
             return mode_aware_item;
         },
         .reload_aware => |reload_aware| {
-            reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload.text = allocator.dupe(u8, reload_aware.reload.text) catch reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload.text;
             reload_aware_item.reload_aware.idle.text = allocator.dupe(u8, reload_aware.idle.text) catch reload_aware_item.reload_aware.idle.text;
+            reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload.text = allocator.dupe(u8, reload_aware.reload.text) catch reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload.text;
+            reload_aware_item.reload_aware.watching.text = allocator.dupe(u8, reload_aware.watching.text) catch reload_aware_item.reload_aware.watching.text;
             return reload_aware_item;
         },
     }
@@ -407,6 +411,7 @@ fn parseItem(val: std.json.Value, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, fallback_style:
     var reload_aware_item: StatusBar.Item = .{ .reload_aware = StatusBar.ReloadAwareItem{
         .idle = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = fallback_style },
         .reload = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = fallback_style },
+        .watching = StatusBar.StyledItem{ .text = "", .style = fallback_style },
     } };
 
     switch (val) {
@@ -421,9 +426,10 @@ fn parseItem(val: std.json.Value, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, fallback_style:
                 mode_aware_item.mode_aware.command = parseStyledItem(obj.get("command"), allocator, mode_aware_item.mode_aware.command);
                 return mode_aware_item;
             }
-            if (obj.contains("reload") or obj.contains("idle")) {
+            if (obj.contains("idle") or obj.contains("reload") or obj.contains("watching")) {
                 reload_aware_item.reload_aware.idle = parseStyledItem(obj.get("idle"), allocator, reload_aware_item.reload_aware.idle);
                 reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload = parseStyledItem(obj.get("reload"), allocator, reload_aware_item.reload_aware.reload);
+                reload_aware_item.reload_aware.watching = parseStyledItem(obj.get("watching"), allocator, reload_aware_item.reload_aware.watching);
                 return reload_aware_item;
             }