As the leaves fall and the air chills, there is the palpable festive joyful buzz.

And, there is also a sneaky little monster that begins to peek around the corner: stress.

So before it’s in full force, I want to get real and address how to make it work for you, not against you. Because we’ve all felt that chokehold.

That 3 am stare-down with the ceiling, or in my case, that trip to the hospital over a decade ago. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s oh-so-human. But when stress goes from challenging to soul-crushing? That's where burnout dims our brightest moments.

✅ The Goldilocks Curve of Stress – Your GPS to Thriving

Imagine Amy Arnsten’s bell curve which correlates stress with productivity and wellbeing. At its peak, stress gives you wings, it’s like you are flying, fueling passion and productivity. But then when you start to stray towards too little, or today’s topic, too much stress, you can quickly find yourself at the epicenter of chaos.

And the impact?

It’s messy.

When stress becomes king, life can feel like a foggy maze. Your vision and hearing literally narrows, Decisions are harder, the joy in little moments fades, and our empathy—the very thing that connects us—gets lost in the shuffle.

😬 Personalize Your Stress Strategy

But first it requires acknowledging that sticking your head in the sand and ignoring the signs is a recipe for disaster. Knowing where you stand on the stress spectrum at any moment is what keeps you from losing your marbles.

Further, each of us carries our own set of worries, burdens, triggers and challenges. Reflecting on what activates you, is a critical key – or better stated, lifeline - to strategizing and navigating this season. Because balance isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a must – or bust.”

Whether you are ready to accelerate your leadership, dive deeper, or bring invaluable mindfulness and neuro-based tools to your organization, reach out, let’s connect.