The secret to stress management…
The past month as been full of ups and downs. Speaking with friends and colleagues, there must be something in the air, because I haven’t been alone in riding the proverbial rollercoaster.
After a two and half year break, I returned to the corporate world. The past few weeks haven’t been the easiest. I’ve had my skills and experience questioned numerous times by a colleague trying to make themselves look good. The same colleague has been obstructive and less than collaborative. Demanding business teams and project deadlines, along with normal life admin, has had me craving sugary snacks and alcohol.
There was a time when experiencing stress, especially at work, would have had me eating my way through several chocolate bars or found me in the nearest pub with a glass of wine, or gin and tonic in hand.
But that wasn’t all. Stress at work would make it difficult to sleep, and we all know that a good nights sleep is important if we want to function at our best. Lack of sleep, poor diet and hangovers led to me feeling even more stressed. It was a cycle I was trapped in and felt I would never get out of.
In the past, as soon as I felt stressed, I would reach for something to distract me from my discomfort. And once the discomfort had faded I’d carry on as if nothing had happened. Until the next time stress reared its head.
Maybe you’ve felt the same at some point? Or maybe this is something you’re going through right now.
But my recent experience with work and life stress has been different. Let me share how…
When stress has hit, I haven’t had the urge to chow down on chocolate or run to the nearest pub to down a drink that would numb how I felt.
When I first noticed this change in behaviour, I put it down to a one-off. But when this continued every time stress showed up for me, I started to dig deeper.
Had I finally found the secret to managing my stress, without putting my health at risk? Had I finally found the secret without even trying?
Since 2022 I have been learning and understanding more about the nervous system. I worked with a nervous system coach for a year to learn more about my own nervous system and how it responds to life. This has been key in noticing what happens for me emotionally and physically when experiencing stress.
Specifically:
- I have become more aware of how my nervous system reacts when it is moving through different nervous system states.
- I have become more aware of my own stress triggers.
- I have become more aware of the underlying emotions that cause my stress responses.
- And… I’ve become more aware of what I need in order to feel resourced, so that I can manage stress more effectively.
All of these elements combined have helped me to make better choices when it comes to experiencing and managing my stress, i.e. not turning to chocolate or alcohol. Not only am I sleeping better, but my general health has also improved. I have more energy and am able to face the ups and downs of life more easily.
I’ve learned that we can’t eliminate stress from our lives. It’s something we all deal with on a day to day basis. But it is something that we can learn to manage in healthier and sustainable ways.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can go FROM STRESSED TO SUPPORTED, why not sign up for my FREE 30-day email course? You will receive 30 short emails straight to your inbox, each one a 2 - 3 minute read with simple practices and reflections that you can fit into your day.
The email series covers topics such as:
- how to recognise your dsyregulation;
- the nervous system states and what to do to shift them;
- what it means to feel safe; and
- micro-practices to support your nervous system.
This series isn’t about fixing you. It’s here to help your body remember what it feels like to be supported so that you can manage stress effectively.
If you’re not ready to sign up for FROM STRESSED TO SUPPORTED, why not take one of my quizzes instead:
HOW STRESSED ARE YOU? - A short stress self-assessment quiz.
HOW RESOURCED ARE YOU? - A short quiz to determine how resourced you are.
And don’t forget you can also find more information and resources here on my Substack and my YouTube channel.
Much love,
Harmesch x