Hand raised if you feel like you’re your own experiment in life. <hand up> Let me share a vegas-lights-obvious example of how choices and actions effect health.

Last week, between a Wednesday book writing deadline, finances, and business decisions, my perceived stress was through-the-roof and it showed.

Which made me think. When you’re stressed, what gets sacrificed first? How does your body tell you to slow down? What impact does it have on our hormonal and overall health?

Body Language

The first thing sacrificed, was my “off” time to connect with sefl, others, and nature - I was working after work and on weekends, on other work, which never works (Dr. Seuss much?). The body revolted.

• Falling asleep was difficult

• I felt ‘wired and tired’

• The scale bounced up

• Food cravings increased

• It was hard to focus

No pity needed, I did this to myself. I’m the one that both said yes to the writing project that I didn’t really have time for, and the one that procrastinated until the deadline was near.

But the body’s reaction, the obvious and disruptive reaction, was interesting and sent me down a rabbit hole on hormone health and the effects of stress.

Check out my two favourite comprehensive resources linked below to understand and optimize hormone health, as well as the effects of stress - for yourselves, and if you’re a parent, for your children.

Do. Delegate. Delete.

There are three ways I like to approach stressors that are lingering:

• Do it

• Delegate it

• Delete it (fave)

In this case, I just did the darn thing and took the time off work to complete the book manuscript. Then all the outstanding admin tasks. Then cleaned the house.

By Wednesday night, I was back to sleeping easily at 9pm

By Thursday the cravings were gone and I felt rested

By Friday the inflammation was gone, energy and focus were up.

By Saturday, @whoop recovery scores, which includes HRV improved.

Stressors and Strategies Worksheet

Not overloading ourselves to beginning with is ideal, but not always possible. When life feels a bit like a run away train, I’ll make a list of every stressor.

You look at the list and decide if you are going to take action on it (do), outsource it (delegate), or best of all, simply cross it off (delete).

Then take the “do” list and use the stressors and strategies worksheet to work out how to address each.

Then crack on. One at a time.

Dr Andrew Huberman recently released two incredibly eye opening and comprehensive episodes - one men’s hormonal health and one on women’s hormonal health. I wish I knew this information sooner, and will certainly be applying the knowledge now. Have a listen, not just to understand your own body and health, but to understand your children, your partners, your families, your friends.

A book that is dog eared, highlighted, and has helped shape my overall approach to stress is ‘When the Body Says No: The Hidden Cost of Stress’ by Dr Gabor Maté. It dives into how emotional and psychological stress plays a strong role in the onset of chronic illness.

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