Emotion · Overwhelm family
Stress
noun
The body and mind’s response to pressure — useful in short bursts, harmful when it never turns off.
How it shows up in the body
Tight muscles, headaches, clenched jaw, stomach trouble, poor sleep.
What it is telling you
A demand is asking more of you than usual. Ask whether the pressure is temporary and meaningful, or constant and unsustainable.
The urge — and the choice
To push through without stopping. The choice is to schedule recovery as seriously as effort.
One thing to try
Pick one recovery break today — a walk, a meal without a screen, five slow breaths — and put it on the calendar.
Practice it: Body scan.
Read more: Self-management
