By Rachel Hiser, PN1, PN1-SSRC
Do you ever say (or think) things like:
- I feel so drained...
- I just can’t take ONE more thing …
- I don’t even feel like myself anymore. What happened?
You may be going through the motions, but you’ve lost your joy and zest for life. Maybe you even struggle to do the things you know you should do and wonder why you can’t seem to make yourself do them.
Life stressors, poor sleep, and insufficient recovery contribute to a vicious cycle of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unmotivated. Stress can also lead to physical symptoms like headaches, stomach and bowel issues, trouble sleeping, and muscle pain. It fuels feelings of guilt, anger, loneliness, and hopelessness.
If this sounds like you, just know you are not alone. 49% of Americans in a 2023 Gallup Global Emotions Report shared that they experience significant daily stress. And 75% of Americans reporting increased stress over the last five years shared that they experience physical or emotional symptoms related to stress, according to the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” survey.
While we can’t always remove the source of stress, we DO all have the capacity to recover better from stress. And when you recover well, you thrive.
Recovery Creates Resilience
Stress is part of God’s design to help us learn, grow, and thrive. Stressors help your body get tougher, your mind sharper, and your faith stronger. But stress without sufficient recovery breaks us down instead of building us up.
So, how you respond to the stressors in your life is important. When you feel stretched too thin, mentally drained, or just plain exhausted, that’s a sign that you need more recovery.
“But I don’t have time!” you say.
I hear you. I used to live in a recurrent cycle of burnout and fatigue because I didn’t know how else to get all the things done.
It took years to realize that recovery doesn’t have to mean long vacations, undisturbed bubble baths by candlelight, or hours to myself for “self-care.” Not that any of those things are bad. They just aren’t realistic for a lot of women (especially if there’s a toddler or two in the house).
Recovery simply means the process of restoring your physical, mental, and emotional balance after experiencing stress. This can include small, seemingly insignificant actions or habits.
Short, simple recovery tools that require very little time to help you cope with the things going on in your life can actually make a BIG difference!
Small tweaks to your existing schedule and lifestyle can create a big impact on your energy levels, productivity, and overall joy in life.
Next Steps
Want to improve your sleep, stress management, and recovery process? Schedule a free consultation with me at www.chrysalistransform/contact. Let’s explore a couple simple options you can implement right away to help you overcome overwhelm so you can rest, repair, and refresh faster.
About the Author
Rachel Hiser (PN1, PN1-SSRC) is a Certified Sleep, Stress Management, and Recovery Coach. After struggling with sleep deprivation, recurrent burnout, and chronic overwhelm for over twenty years, she realized that these things were holding her back from serving God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. The Lord brought the resources and support she needed to recover well and live from a place of peace and joy, even while raising five kids, homeschooling, and running a family business. Now she shares the gift of recovery with others through individual and group coaching. Learn more at www.chrysalistransform.com
