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:

Maintaining a sense of community and support system
Managing visual and digital clutter
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.

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