Over the past few weeks, I’ve come through a particularly intense period of moving home. While moving itself might sound like one event, in reality, you’ll know it’s the volume of small, time-sensitive tasks that make it physically and mentally demanding.
It also provided a very real-time reminder of something I talk about often:
When you’re under pressure, it’s not about pushing harder to get through ‘no matter what’, it’s about how well you support yourself through it. Because when there’s a lot going on, how you manage your energy, stress, and capacity determines whether you get through it well… or burn out.
When Life Gets Busy, the Basics Go First
One of the most common patterns I see, both personally and with clients, is that when things get busy or stressful, the basics are the first to go.
Meals become irregular.
Sleep gets compromised.
Movement drops off.
Everything becomes more reactive.
And it makes complete sense because when you’re under pressure, your focus shifts to getting everything done. But the challenge is that those “basic” things are the very things that support your ability to handle stress in the first place.
So, when they fall away, your stress levels rise further, your resilience drops and everything then starts to feel harder, more overwhelming, and more draining.
What Actually Helped Me Stay Resilient
Reflecting on this period, there were a few key things that made the biggest difference, and they’re the same things I teach my clients to prioritise. They’re not complicated or extreme, but most people hugely underestimate the positive impact when maintained, and also the negative impact when they slip.
Maintaining stable blood sugar: This is something I talk about a lot, and for me it’s non-negotiable. This looks like not skipping meals, not leaving it too long to eat, and avoiding relying on quick, carbohydrate-heavy options. Because when blood sugar is unstable, your stress response is amplified and naturally your resilience drops.
Starting the day with a morning walk: Each morning, I made time to get out for a walk. Partly to step away from what was, at times, organised chaos, but more importantly, to create headspace and regulate my nervous system before the day began.
Letting go of non-essential routines: I temporarily let go of my usual gym routine. Not because movement isn’t important, but because at that time, trying to squeeze it in would have added unnecessary pressure. Sometimes wellbeing and resilience are about knowing what to deprioritise, not just what to prioritise.
Prioritising sleep and creating space in the morning: Going to bed earlier meant I naturally woke up earlier. That shift alone created a sense of space at the start of the day, which had a significant impact on how I felt and how I approached everything.
Managing time and energy proactively: Everything was planned, tracked, and reviewed at the end of each day. This is something I teach often, because planning creates a proactive state. It keeps you ahead of things, rather than constantly reacting. And in periods like this, that makes a huge difference.
Managing mindset and emotional load: There were moments where things didn’t go to plan. What helped most was having an outlet, talking things through, using voice notes, or simply getting thoughts out of my head to make processing and letting go easier. Alongside that, I was very conscious of what I needed to let go of, because under pressure, it’s easy to become overly focused on details and try to control everything, which only adds more stress.
What This Really Comes Down To
When I zoom out, all of this comes back to one thing, which is at the core of my work: Managing stress, both proactively and reactively. Setting yourself up to handle pressure, and then actively reducing it where you can, day by day. That doesn’t mean things won’t feel stressful, but it does make them far more manageable.
The Part Most People Miss: Recovery
Something that’s just as important, and often overlooked, is what happens after the intense period. Now that things have settled, I have intentionally built in time to decompress. That means doing less, getting out into nature and allowing my body and nervous system to come back down, because you can’t sustain high output without giving yourself space to recover.
Final Thought
It’s not about avoiding stressful periods, because they’re part of life. It’s about how you support yourself through them. Focusing on the small, consistent things that help you stay regulated, stay clear-headed, and maintain your capacity, even when there’s a lot going on.
Because that’s what allows you to get through those periods without burning out or becoming unwell. And just as importantly, it’s about giving yourself the space to recover afterwards.
Kate x
If this is something you’re navigating at the moment, or something you’d like to get better at, this is exactly the kind of work I support clients with — helping them manage stress and maintain performance without burning out. Contact me here to schedule a consultation.
And if you’d like to hear more on this, you can listen to the full episode here: How to Manage Stress and Stay Resilient During High-Pressure Periods on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
