How often have you said, "I'm so stressed!" or "There just aren't enough hours in the day"?

Stress has become such a familiar part of everyday life that we barely question it anymore. But have we become so accustomed to feeling stressed that we've forgotten what it feels like not to be?

In this episode of The Curious Pause, I explore what stress actually is, how it affects our bodies and minds, and why a natural survival response can become a problem when we rarely give ourselves time to recover.

From imagining a hungry lion appearing in the countryside to building a children's tower of blocks, I share some simple ways to understand how stress works.

Imagine each block representing a different demand on your body or mind. A poor night's sleep, running late, getting stuck in traffic, skipping lunch or dealing with another problem at work. The blocks keep piling up until one seemingly insignificant event sends the whole tower tumbling down.

We often blame that final incident for our reaction, when the real problem may be the stress that's been accumulating over days, weeks or even months.

I also explore why stress isn't always bad, why we all respond differently to the same situations, and how physical, emotional and environmental pressures can quietly accumulate without us even noticing.

Drawing on my background in nursing and personalised health, I reflect on the importance of listening to our bodies, recognising the early warning signs and giving ourselves permission to rest.

In this episode, I explore:

• 🦁 Why our fight, flight or freeze response is essential for survival.
• 🧱 How everyday stresses accumulate until our tower comes tumbling down.
• 🌿 Why stress isn't always harmful and how it can sometimes help us perform.
• 💚 The effects of prolonged stress on our physical and emotional wellbeing.
• 🧠 How our thoughts and beliefs can influence our stress response.
• 👂 Why listening to our bodies matters just as much as listening to our minds.
• 🌸 Simple ways to create more space for rest, recovery and balance.

Something to ponder

Have you become so accustomed to being busy that you've forgotten how to rest?

What are the little building blocks of stress in your life that you've stopped noticing?

And what one small change might create a little more space for you?

You don't have to solve everything today. Sometimes awareness is enough.

Mentioned in this episode

In my book Beyond Hot and Crazy: A Radical Guide to Living Well with Menopause, I explore the relationship between stress, health and wellbeing, particularly during menopause.

Coming next

Are You Addicted to Stress?

Can we become so accustomed to busyness, pressure and constant demands that slowing down actually feels uncomfortable?

That's what I'll be exploring in the next episode.

🎙️ The Curious Pause

The place to pause, listen and remember.

If this episode resonates with you, I'd love you to share it with someone who might benefit from a little more space in their life.

Until next time, pause, listen and remember.