profile

Positively_Lisa

When selfcare isn't helping, it's time to address this overlooked issue!

Published almost 2 years ago • 2 min read

Reader

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything you can but you still don't feel right? You're taking care of yourself, but it doesn't feel like it's helping. Sometimes it's because we really need different selfcare, but often it's because we overlook a major cause of overwhelm. We have something called invisible stressors--underlying challenges that build up over time and undermine your efforts in a quiet, sneaky way.

Granted, not all stressors are invisible. Some are obvious and you can pinpoint them quickly. But when we are strong and taught to persevere and trained that this level of stress is the “norm” we often ignore the warning signs and the impact of stress in our life. Then we end up with a drain on us that we can't quite pinpoint.

Invisible stressors are common with those doing more than their fair share–the multi-passionates, caregivers, creatives, and all the chaos coordinators out there who feel overwhelmed by so many demands on their time and energy.

In a recent coaching session with my new client and podcast guest, Janis Isaman, we dove deep into identifying and addressing her invisible stressors. She's a wellness professional with extensive training in trauma-sensitive practices, yet, she recently experienced an unexpected bout of high stress and anxiety and didn't understand why.

Janis is no stranger to self-care. She's got it on lock. She's so into it she helps others with it! So she needed to figure out what was going on and what to do, because the standard advice when feeling that way is to bump up the selfcare, which feels insulting to someone who is making an effort to do that already.

We uncovered several key areas contributing to her overwhelm:

  1. Maintaining a sense of community and support system
  2. Managing visual and digital clutter
  3. The mental load of her various roles and responsibilities

The solutions we explored focused on implementing a minimalist time management approach, organizing her communication and notifications, and creating an inventory system for her physical space.

The key was giving Janis permission to do less, to create more space in her schedule, and to prioritize what truly matters. By addressing these invisible stressors head-on, she can regain control, reduce anxiety, and show up more fully in her business and life.

If you're struggling with overwhelm, despite making time for you, I encourage you to take a step back and examine your invisible stressors. And if you like checking out behind-the-scenes stuff, you’ll love episode 234 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, a recorded strategy call with Janis!

If that sounds like a session you'd like to have too, you can book one below for a special discount. If you're not sure, I encourage you to hit reply, send a DM, or book a free consult. I'm happy to chat.

Here's to a season of less stress and more joy,

♥

Lisa

Productivity Coaching is one of the quickest ways to overcome overwhelm so you can confidently take action.

$175.00

$157.50

Focus Boost Session

This fast and effective one-time session builds on a Clarity Call and works well when you need a fast, single focus... Read more
​

County Route 10, Bath, NY 14810
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Positively_Lisa

Productivity Coach + Podcast Host | Shame-free, Sustainable Solutions

I’m Lisa Zawrotny, a Productivity Coach, host of the Positively Living® Podcast, and founder of Positively Productive Systems, on a mission to redefine productivity with compassion. I help overwhelmed clients ditch hustle culture and design shame-free, personalized systems that lead to sustainable success—without burnout or sacrificing what they love. I believe productivity is meant to support a more satisfying, joy-filled life. For me, that means road-tripping with my husband and teens, making music with my family and friends, and inspiring others with my voice. One of my favorite ways to recharge is curling up with a book, an iced coffee, and a cat on my lap. ------------------------------------------- Check out the resources I offer below and request my Toolkit to reduce overwhelm, boost energy, and align your actions with your values!

Read more from Positively_Lisa

Reader You finally have ten free minutes, so you reach for your usual reset. A walk, a podcast, a cup of tea. Afterward you feel about the same, or a little worse, and you wonder why it isn't working anymore. Here's a possibility: the activity was fine, but it was matched to a different kind of stress. What helps when your mind is racing is rarely what helps when your body is run down or when you're craving connection. Stress shows up in more than one way, and so does what it takes to meet...

about 15 hours ago • 2 min read

Reader There's a version of productivity advice that assumes you woke up rested, have a clear to-do list, and a few uninterrupted hours ahead of you. Most days, that's not real life. If you've ever started the day already behind — mentally, emotionally, or just plain tired — traditional planning systems don't help. They make it worse, because now you're behind and you feel like you're doing it wrong. I've been there. And I've spent years helping people find a better way — one that works on...

3 days ago • 1 min read

Reader Stress doesn't wait for a convenient moment to show up. Most of us manage it reactively, reaching for relief after we're already running on empty. But there's another way to approach it: building a toolkit intentionally, before the pressure peaks, so you have something to reach for when it does. That shift (from reactive relief to proactive management) starts with understanding what stress actually is and how it works. And it turns out, you already have more tools available than you...

8 days ago • 1 min read