A Common Paradox of Stress and Why Routine Matters

When the busyness of life ramps up, what is the first thing we often give up? For many of us, it’s what helps keep us going, the things that allow us to show up day after day. It is our self-care routine. We get stuck working late, so we skip our morning run, eat whatever takeout is available because we didn’t pack a lunch, and come home too exhausted to do much of anything else. This is where a common cycle for many of us begins. 

It is completely normal to let our wellness routines slide during high-stress periods. When our brain perceives a threat or is overwhelmed, it enters survival mode. In this state, long-term health goals feel secondary to the demands of what is right in front of us. This is often where we find ourselves getting stuck in a challenging cycle, because giving up our diet, sleep, and exercise actually compounds our stress, making an already difficult situation much worse.

Our minds and bodies operate most effectively when we are able to be consistent in our routines. Each of us gets to define what our routine can and does look like, but it is often consistency that helps to make us resilient. When we neglect our basic physical needs, we strip away our body's natural ability to buffer against anxiety and burnout.

We do not need to be perfect. We don’t need to complete a two-hour wellness routine every day to protect our mental health. Instead, focus on maintenance.

The next time you feel stress building, pause and check in on your sleep, diet, and exercise. How’s that going? And be kind to yourself. Acknowledge that you are operating under intense circumstances and try to drop any expectation of perfection.

At the same time, work to be consistent and keep your base habits alive. If you cannot do a full workout, take a ten-minute walk. If you cannot cook or prep your meals for the day, choose a nutritious, pre-made option. If your mind is racing at night, focus on resting your body in bed, even if sleep comes slowly.

Our diet, sleep, and exercise habits are not extras, they are not chores. They are the essential scaffolding that keeps us going, that helps us to live the life we hope and strive for.