Too Stressed? Try This!

Do you feel wound too tight all the time? I know I’ve been feeling a lot more anxious and unsettled lately. I can try blaming it on my son’s struggle with his health, on trying to help my daughter figure out what’s next in her life path, or especially on the craziness happening here in the US. The fact is, a lot of us are stuck in “go mode” all the time–even when we don’t want to be. 

When You’re Stressed 24/7

You don’t just wake up one day suddenly stressed. It’s something that usually builds up over time. As women, we can give a lot of ourselves without taking the much-needed recovery time our own bodies need. When your body is stressed day in and day out, it can affect your energy, metabolism, digestion, and even your weight. That’s because in times of high-stress, cortisol (your stress hormone) stays high, making you crave sugar, store more fat, and feel totally drained.

This is why real recovery matters. It’s not just about getting through the day–it’s about actually feeling good in your body. So, let’s break it down: Why does this happen? And more importantly, how do you actually switch into rest mode without forcing yourself to “just relax.”

Why You’re So Stressed

We can’t always change everything about what’s going on around us, but we can have some control over how we respond if we know what’s happening in our body and what to do about it. When is comes to your nervous system, your body has two main settings: 

1️⃣ Go Mode (Fight or Flight): This is your body’s stress response. It’s great when you’re running from a lion. Though it’s not so great when it’s triggered by emails, deadlines, and your to-do list

2️⃣ Rest Mode (Recovery & Repair): This is where deep rest happens. It’s how your body heals, digests, balances hormones, and restores energy. And if you’re stuck in “Go Mode,” getting here feels impossible.

This is why you can feel exhausted even when you’re sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising. Your brain wants to shut down, but your nervous system is still running in the background like a browser with 50 tabs open. And if you’ve ever been told to “just relax,” you already know that’s not how it works. Please don't tell me to just relax unless you want your head bitten off!

How To Switch Into Recovery Mode

When you realize that you are too stressed to even relax, there are ways you can remind your body how to chill out. 

✅ 4-4-8 → Try this: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, then exhale for 8. The long exhale is the key. It signals to your nervous system that it’s okay to slow down. Do this 3 to 5 times and you should feel the difference almost immediately.

✅ Move → Moving your body (even just a quick stretch, walk, or dance break) helps clear out stuck energy, stress, and tension.

✅ Set an “Off Switch” → Ever notice how your brain won’t stop looping on random thoughts before bed? That’s a sign you’re still in go-mode. Try journaling, brain-dumping, or putting your phone away 30-60 minutes before bed to help your mind slow down.

Relaxing your nervous systems can impact so much in your life, and science is catching up! My son’s doctor has been having him do all of these things. It’s great to have a doctor using all of the research rather than just prescribing another pill or passing the little things by. 

If you try one of these tricks, I’d love to hear from you how it goes.