How stress shows up
- Tight chest, clenched jaw, headaches or stomach issues
- Short fuse, irritability, or snapping at small things
- Racing thoughts, decision fatigue, or avoidance
- Sleep/appetite changes; feeling “always behind”
Small resets that help
Physiological sigh
Inhale, quick top-up inhale, long slow exhale. Repeat 3-5 times.
Two-minute tidy
Pick one tiny task - clear your desk corner, wash one dish.
Timebox & buffer
Work 25 minutes, break 5. Add 10-15% “slack” to your calendar.
Move your body
Stand, stretch, or take a 3-minute walk to discharge adrenaline.
Build a buffer
Protect your attention: batch notifications, set simple boundaries (“I’ll reply by 4pm”), and schedule one small enjoyable thing daily. Tiny, consistent buffers reduce overload.